1. What is the primary aim of technical writing?

The primary aim of technical writing is to convey a particular piece of

information for a particular purpose to a particular readers. it is objective, clear and
accurate, concise and unemotional in its presentation of facts.
2. Briefly explain the purposes of technical writing
Technical writing has three important purposes:
1. It gives information in decision making and task accomplishments.
2. It analyzes events and their implications, the failure of systems.
3. It persuades and influences decision making.
The main purpose of technical writing is to provide sometimes complex information.
This is the type of writing that will:

Assist a person with understanding more about a particular item, such as a

computer or a new drug or a new piece of technology.

Explain how an object works or how to complete a project.

Technical writing is targeted to readers who are looking for information on a particular
topic. The goal in targeting this group is to make sure that the information provided is clear,
concise and easy for anyone to understand.
This type of writing is somewhat difficult for some people as it requires that you are able to
translate information that is sometimes hard to comprehend into terms that anyone will be able to
read and follow along with, without an issue. While there are different types of writing that are
informative, technical writing is the type that most clearly focuses on presenting information in a
specific way so that people can use the information for a variety of purposes.

3. What professional fields are covered by technical writing?

The following is a partial list of the usage of technical manuals:
Manufacturing: If we take a company such as Airbus, technical manuals are required for
pilots; maintenance personnel and every other category of personnel that are involved
with a specific type or class of an Airbus airplane.
Law: Judges and lawyers use law books for reference purposes. These law books are in
effect, technical manuals that describe law-related issues.
Banking: All banks have written procedures that are used by personnel in every facet of
a given bank's operations. Such procedures are in effect, technical manuals.
Consumers: When one purchases items such as electronics; PCs; automobiles and so
forth, such items are usually accompanied by user manuals which in effect, are technical
manuals.

4. State and explain the characteristics of technical writing

Clarity
It is essential that the technical writer understands the reader's background and needs.
Making the documentation too technical can confuse the reader. The document is
meaningless if the intended audience does not understand what the writer wants to
communicate. Writers who are well aware of their audiences are in a position to give a
solution to their problems. The profession of technical writing demands simplicity of
language and clarity of expression. One must avoid unnecessary words that may put the
readers in a quandary. The written document must be clear and concise so that the text
becomes easier to grasp and understand.
Descriptiveness
Electronic products such as digital cameras or VCRs often come with manuals that tell
how to operate it. As the customers may come from a non-technical background, care
must be taken that the manual is not difficult to understand. Certain key concepts to
operate the product must be explained as easily as possible for the targeted readers. If you
use pure jargon, the customer will possibly never know what you want to say. Explaining
the product in layman's terms is absolutely necessary. Good technical writing conveys
ideas in the most effective manner. A well-written technical document always contains
answers to anticipated problems in the product or application. This aspect of technical
writing is commonly seen in articles that are related to troubleshooting a particular
software or product.
Accuracy
Accuracy is an important characteristic of any technical document. A slight mistake can
have grave consequences. For instance, if you forget to mention some important features
of a new mobile phone, the customers may think that there is nothing special in that
phone and will not prefer to buy it. Effective communication requires quality content and
language that is accurate and readable. Technical writing does not mean that you translate
information unquestioningly. In this profession, one must know for whom the document
is being written and whether it is accurate.
Correctness
The grammatical structure of your technical document should be correct and free from
any kind of ambiguities. The intended meaning will not be communicated to the reader if
the document has ambiguous sentences. The reader is sure to get annoyed, if your
document is replete with misspellings and incorrect construction of sentences. Hence,
apart from providing correct technical information, ensure that the data is grammatically
correct.

Format
The way you present your technical data is also very important from the user's point of
view. For instance, suppose you have explained complex technical data in the most
simple manner, yet it won't hold the attention of the user if it is presented as one big
paragraph. The point is, you go to be creative when it comes to formatting your technical
data. Your technical data must be divided into sub heads. If it is an instruction manual,
then instead of sub heading go for bulleted format. However, if the sequence of
instructions holds priority, one should go for numbered list. Key points pertaining to
precautions or warnings may be emphasized using bullets. A document presented in a
well-organized manner is very easy to read and the important data that the user is looking
for is available at a glance. To make data easily accessible, one can give technical
specification of any product in a tabular form. You also need to complement your
descriptive technical data with a graphic image of the product in focus. This is visually
appealing and will definitely arrest the attention of the most casual viewer.
5. Discuss the five basic principles of technical writing
The five basic principles of good technical writing could be taken as the foundation
on which further development of the skills in writing should be developed. Comments by
different authors of technical writing books refer to these principles as so important that in
fact it should comprise the basics of technical writing. However, these principles are so basic
and important that it encompasses the whole development of the subject, technical writing.
1. Always have in mind a specific reader, real or imaginary, when you are writing a report;
and always assume that this reader is intelligent, but uninformed.
2. Before you start to write, always decide what the exact purpose of your report is; and
make sure that every paragraph, every sentence, every word, makes a clear contribution
to that purpose, and makes it at the right time.
3. Use language that is simple, concrete, and familiar.
4. At the beginning and end of every section of your report check your writing according to
this principle: First you tell your readers what you are going to tell them, then you tell
them, and then you tell them what you have told them."
5. Make your report attractive to look at.