2/18/22, 7:59 PM 033- Advanced Technical Communication - https://usl-tuguegarao.neolms.com/student_lesson/show/3143412?

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033- Advanced Technical Communication

WEEK 2: Importance of Technical Communication

Basic Principles of Good Technical Writing

We are done with the different types of technical writing needed in a specific profession. Now, are to move on to our next topic which is about the Basic
Principles of Good Technical Writing. Have you ever wonder how do technical writers write direct and specific instructions? What principles do they follow to
make technical writings? What are the qualities of technical writer to make a good technical instructions?

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOOD TECHNICAL WRITING

Technical writing is one of the most important elements of a company's customer support strategy, and these five principles that technical writers must bear
in mind to be successful. Inattention to any of these five areas often leads to a substandard document and dissatisfaction on the client end.

Mills and Walter (1980: 13-14) identified the basic principles as follows:

1. Always bear in mind a specific reader, real or imaginary, when you are writing a report; and always assume that he is intelligent but
uninformed.
An awareness of who is going to read a user guide, the knowledge gap that the user guide is filling and the delivery method of the
guide all play important roles.
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.  
Before beginning any writing task, the writer analyzes audience and identifies the purpose for the document. The writer asks following
questions about the audience:* Who will read the document?* What are their biases?* What are technical writer’s ethical
responsibilities when communicating this to audience?
With regard to purpose, technical writers ask: what should this document accomplish? What should it do? Should it:* Inform*
Request* Instruct* Suggest* Order* Report* Reply* Analyse/ critique* Compare
3. Use language that is simple, concrete, and familiar.
Different types of writing have different audiences, and each audience has its own linguistic needs, which the writer respects with
tone and word choice.
4. At the beginning and end of every section of your report, check your writing according to this principle: First you tell the reader what you’re
going to tell him, then you tell him what you’ve told him.
5. Make your report attractive to look at.

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