Lesson 5: Exploring Basic Techniques of Technical Writing

Informal and Formal Definitions Mills & Walter (2010) explained that
definitions provide concise, but exact, meanings for unfamiliar words and
explain special meanings for familiar words. They are often used to explain
technical words and concepts. What to define and what information to
include in a definition depends on the needs of the reader and the purpose
of communication. The definition simply means a statement of the meaning
of a word or group of words.
Moreover, Baraceros (2012) described definition as a way of giving or
explaining the meaning of an abstract term or a concept. Coming from the
Latin words, finire (to limit); and de (from), the explanation it gives is limited
only to what the reader needs to know about the term to avoid confusion with
other words belonging to the same class to where the target word belongs.
To define then is to set a limit to or narrow down the area of the
meaning of the word. By giving a meaning that clearly distinguishes what is
being defined from other species or things, definition works to prevent you
from attaching other meanings to the target term. As you come to know its
specific group, basic features, and main function, you regard the object as
clearly different from other objects. As Brunett (2005) said, this makes you
give “the reversible property of definition;” that is, a “definition that fits only
the word; the word fits only the definition.”
Why do we need to define words? Experience shows that sometimes,
misunderstanding occur because a term is misinterpreted that is why the use
of simple, familiar terms may avoid the problem of definition. The need to
properly define words will increase readers understanding of the terms used
in the document, it will elaborate on technical terms, and avoid negative
impact on improperly defined terms. Here are other practical reasons for the
importance of definition:
❖ It gives the reader a clearer and easier understanding of the concept
or idea enough to encourage him to read continuously until the end of
the text.
❖ It explains ideas or concepts behind various innovations, methods, and
techniques in the field of technology.
 ❖ It lessens the gap between technological experts or “high-tech” people
and the “low-tech” people. It frees a person from any confusing, wrong
understanding of a term.
❖ It helps a company member do his job more efficiently towards a
certain goal.
❖ It makes any technical written work readable to all kinds of audience
or readers.
How do you define terms or words?
There are two ways of defining terms: simple definition and extended,
expanded, or amplified definition.
A. A simple definition is commonly used in technical writing whether
formally or non-formally.
1. Informal Definition
This type of definition is also called a parenthetical definition or an
in-text definition. Basically, the informal definition is a substitution of a
familiar term or phrase to the unfamiliar or technical term used. It is an
incomplete definition, has a brief and particularly adapted for use in the text,
and it lacks emphasis. The informal definition does not follow a pattern. The
only objective is to give meaning to a word that is unfamiliar or explain the
special meaning of a familiar word.
Appearing in the text in the form of a synonym, a phrase or a clause, this
informal definition is distinguished or separated from other words in the
sentence through a dash, a colon, a comma, parentheses, italics, or bold.
 2. Formal Definition
The other names given to this type of definition are: Aristotelian and
one-sentence logical definition. Defining a term in a formal manner
requires you to: first, mention the term or species to be defined; second,
name the genus, group or class where such term belongs; and third, give
the differentia to indicate its difference from other members belonging to the
class. It is a logical or a step-by-step method of making the term meaningful.
All these three elements: term, genus, and differentia should be contained in
one complete sentence, not just in a phrase or a clause.
❖ Term is the word to be defined. It answers the question, “What is to be
defined?”
❖ Genus is the category, group, or class to which the term belongs. It
answers the question, “In what category, group, or class does the term
belong?”
❖ The differentia tells the unique characteristics of the term making it
distinct from other terms of the same classification. It answers the
question “What makes a term different from the other term or terms of
the same genus?” See now how these three main parts make a formal
 definition. Notice that it requires a verb to complete its meaning, and
the verb is usually in the present tense.

B. Extended, Expanded, or Amplified Definitions

This type of definition goes beyond the sentential level. It expands into
a paragraph-length definition using around three (3) to ten (10)
sentences. It provides more information besides talking about the
category and the use or function. It also provides information on what
it is made up of, its structure, its peculiar physical and chemical
properties, when, where, and by whom it is used and its merits and
drawbacks. Here are some ways of extending, expanding, or
amplifying a definition of a term:

1. Etymology or Word Derivation. The definition gives the origin

of the term based on the country that first introduced the term to
the world.
2. Historical definition. This definition stresses the historical
development of the term. Mentioned in this definition are the
people, places, and dates that played significant roles in the
existence of the word.
3. Negation or elimination. This kind of extended definition are
those aspects, elements, or properties of the term or concepts
that contribute to the existence of such a term, telling what a
thing is not.
4. Operating principles. What is stressed in this type of amplified
the definition is the process involved in the production or
creation of the thing referred to the term being defined.
5. Comparison and contrast. This kind of definition makes you
extend your explanation of a concept or a thing by pointing out
how such a thing or concept is similar to or different from other
concepts.
6. Use of examples. What determines the meaning of a term or a
concept by means of this type of amplified definition is how this
concept applies to another concept or how one uses it in a
certain situation.
7. Operational definition. In giving a concept or a term its
operational definition, you explain the indispensable function or
use of this thing in the process, project, or activity.
8. Partition. This definition divides complex topics into multiple
categories. For example, for a definition of diabetes, the writer
would want to partition the three kinds of diabetes (type 1
diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes) and discuss
them one at a time rather than try to define them all at the same
time.
9. Illustration or visuals. Provides a graphic representation of a
topic. For example, for a definition of the water cycle, the writer
might use a visual illustration of the process to supplement his
or her written description.
10. Description. This method of definition explains the
appearance of a thing, by describing its shape, size, material,
etc.
Guidelines in giving a formal or one-sentence logical definition

a. Give one and only one meaning to the term

b. Put the term in a genus or class that is familiar to your audience
or readers.
c. Prevent the reader from thinking of many comparable and
contrasting features of the term in relation to others by using a
specific class rather than a general class.
d. Use positive words in stating a differentia.
e. Avoid giving a bias or subjective definition by basing your
explanation on facts or universal truths rather than on your
viewpoints or opinions.