Technical Writing Definition and Observations

Technical writing is a specialized form of exposition: that is, written communication done on the job, especially in fields with specialized vocabularies, such as science, engineering, technology, and the health sciences. Along with business writing, technical writing is often subsumed under the heading of professional communication. About Technical Writing The Society for Technical Communication (STC) offers this definition of technical writing: the process of gathering information from experts and presenting it to an audience in a clear, easily understandable form. It can take the form of writing an instruction manual for software users or detailed specifications for an engineering project—and myriad other types of writing in technical, medicine, and science fields. In an influential article published in 1965, Webster Earl Britton concluded that the essential characteristic of technical writing is the effort of the author to convey one meaning and only one meaning in what he says. Characteristics of Technical Writing Here are its main characteristics: Purpose:  Getting something done within an organization (completing a project, persuading a customer, pleasing your boss, etc.)Your knowledge of the topic:  Usually greater than that of the readerAudience:  Often several people, with differing technical backgroundsCriteria for evaluation:  Clear and simple organization of ideas, in a format that meets the needs of busy readersStatistical and graphic support:  Frequently used to explain existing conditions and to present alternative courses of action   Differences Between Tech and Other Types of Writing   The Handbook of Technical Writing describes the crafts goal this way: The goal of  technical writing  is to enable readers to use a technology or understand a process or concept. Because the subject matter is more important than the writers  voice, technical writing  style  uses an objective, not a subjective,  tone. The writing style is direct and utilitarian, emphasizing exactness and  clarity  rather than elegance or allusiveness. A technical writer uses  figurative language  only when a  figure of speech  would facilitate understanding. Mike Markel notes in Technical Communication, The biggest difference between technical communication and the other kinds of writing you have done is that technical communication has a somewhat different focus on  audience  and  purpose. In Technical Writing, Presentational Skills, and Online Communication, computer science professor Raymond Greenlaw notes that the writing style in  technical writing is  more prescriptive than in creative writing. In technical writing, we are not so much concerned about entertaining the audience as we are about conveying specific information to our readers in a concise and precise manner. Careers Study People can study technical writing in college or technical school, though a student doesnt have to earn a full degree in the field for the skill to be useful in his or her job. Employees in technical fields who have good communication skills can learn on the job through feedback from their team members as they work on projects, supplementing their work experience through taking occasional targeted courses to further develop their skills. Knowledge of the field and its specialized vocabulary is the most important piece for technical writers, just as in other niche writing areas, and can command a paid premium over generalist writers. Sources Gerald J. Alred, et al., Handbook of Technical Writing. Bedford/St. Martins, 2006.Mike Markel, Technical Communication. 9th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2010.William Sanborn Pfeiffer, Technical Writing: A Practical Approach. Prentice-Hall, 2003.