TECHNICAL

WRITING
[UWB20302]
Mdm Siti Aisyah binti Akiah
Centre for Language Studies (CLS)
What do you think?
Overview

Technical
Writing

Technical
Communication

Technical
Field
 Definition of technical
Adj.

1 of or relating to a particular subject, art, or craft, or its

techniques.
- requiring special knowledge to be understood

2 of, involving, or concerned with applied and industrial

sciences.
- relating to the operation of machines

3 according to a strict application or interpretation of the

law or rules.
Technical Communication

The process of conveying technical information to a specific

audience through writing, speech, and other mediums.

Information is usable if the intended audience can perform an

action or make a decision based on its contents.
 Technical Writing

The most important aspect of communication in the world of

science, engineering, technology and business.

Serves the purpose of giving instructions, narrating an event

and making descriptions of things.

Technical writers put technical terms into easily

understandable language to specific audience.
In short, Technical Writing

conveys information about a technical topic to a specific

audience for a specific purpose.

The words and graphics included are meant to be practical, that is

to communicate factual information that will help an audience to

understand a subject or carry out a task.

Michael H. Markel
Director of Technical Communication
Boise State University
Application of Technical Writing

instructions user guides & manuals proposals

progress reports analytical reports business plans

installation guides business correspondence & resumes

feasibility reports organizational policies & procedures

cookbooks travel guides troubleshooting guides

So, what are the differences between
Technical Writing and other types of
writing?
 Technical Writing Creative Writing
Content

Audience

Purpose

Style

Tone

Vocabulary

Organisation
 Important Aspects
in Technical Communication

1. Topic - narrow the subject

2. Audience - based on the audiences needs, level

of understanding, and background
3. Purpose - mention the ultimate goal clearly

4. Type - medium chosen to deliver the data

When you have to read a technical
document, how do you expect the
writing would be?
 Characteristics of Effective
Technical Writing

Clear - easily understood by intended audience

Accurate - factual and correct

Comprehensive only necessary information

Accessible headings, indexes, table of content

Concise no unnecessary words

Correct - follow conventions

 Audience

The person who needs to know about the technical information

Members of each audience differ in backgrounds, experiences,

needs and opinions

The recognition of the audience affect many aspects of technical

communication, from word selection and graphics usage to
style and organization
 Audience (Cont)

4 types of possible audience in technical communication :

(i) high-tech audience
(ii) low-tech audience
(iii) lay audience
(iv) multiple audiences

Viewing something from the audiences perspective will help

you select the most relevant details for that audience.
Audience (Cont)
 Audience (Cont)

For technical audience

supply a complete report with every detail noted
in an appendix

For other readers

give a short discussion or summary yet complete
and helpful