Technical writing is a writing discipline that is sometimes defined as

simplifying the complex.

Technical writing involves communicating complex information to those who

need it to accomplish some task or goal.

It often results in relevant, useful and accurate information geared to

specifically targeted audiences in order to enable a set of actions on the part
of the audience in pursuit of a defined goal.

KINDS OF TECHNICAL WRITING

Medical and Scientific Papers

Technical writing within the medical and science realm comes under the
traditional technical writing umbrella. Researchers use this academic to
interpret their findings, organize and condense them into engaging content, and
publish it in various journals, newsletters, and online platforms. The skill
requirements for medico-scientific papers include:

Exceptional attention to detail, especially when breaking down high-value

experiments and findings

A high level of accuracy when inserting names, dates, citations, etc.

Effective organizational skills, especially when taking all the raw data and
organizing it into a user-friendly content form

A flair for authority and credibility that lends itself very well to academics in
general.

User Manuals and Assistance Guides

User guides are a common form of technical writing that even non-technical
professionals encounter. User help guides mean breaking down the product
into its constituent parts, explaining how each part functions, and answering
questions about each piece’s solutions. Furthermore, it involves answering

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 queries as consumers use the product for an extended period. Common skill
requirements for the technical writing of user guides include:

Thorough knowledge of how to organize instruction manuals into stages and

sections based on how the product works

A knack for creating solution-oriented content that perfectly explains how to

solve a specific problem

Complete understanding of each product

A direct and no-frills style with clear and concise points and minimal use of
fluff or filler content

Books and Guides by Technical Writers

Writing technical books and long-form guides is different from the previous
genre due to the length of the content, its conceptual nature, and the amount of
detail they go into. Interestingly, even though they are more detailed, technical
books have to be written so that any user can comprehend them. The skill
requirements for writing this form of technical documentation include:

The ability to transform complex, jargon-heavy information into simplified and

informative content

Complete understanding of the formatting, structure, pacing, and length that’s

ideal for these technical documents

Knowledge of when and how to insert visual aids such as graphs, images, and
tables to make the content more engaging

Some experience in writing long-form content on a variety of subjects

These books can also take the form of troubleshooting guides for software
programs. In this role, they have to account for all the possible problems the
program could run into and explain solutions for each one.

Assembly Manuals
Probably the most common form of technical writing in a company’s
mechanical maintenance department, assembly and repair manuals are another

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 niche form of technical writing.
This is due to the technical skills required to understand the disassembly and
re-assembly process of a specific machine or piece of equipment. Most general
repair guides contain a variety of assembly manuals for various types of
machinery.
Assembly guides are different from any other form of technical communication
because most (if not all) companies require you to have the ability to perform
disassembly.

The skill requirements for assembly manuals and guides include:

A theoretical and practical understanding of the equipment and repair

processes involved

Experience working with and repairing machinery of a similar type or function

Ability to research (to find better, more efficient disassembly and repair
processes)

Extensive knowledge of how production lines work and how to keep the
machinery operating optimally

Technical Documents, Reviews, and

Reports
Corporate content development contains reviews and reports for stakeholder
meetings, proposals, and business pitches. It’s another versatile form that
mixes academic reporting and technical research-based guides. Reports are
technical documents that explain the process and outcome of any research, be
it scientific or business-centric. Technical reports come in several forms, such
as feasibility reports, primary research reports, business plans and
prospectuses, short-form proposals, press releases, case studies, etc. The skill
requirements for assembly manuals and guides include:

High-level understanding of the process that’s under focus, as well as how

similar processes progress over time

Complete knowledge of the product, as well as past, current, and (proposed)

future operations

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 The ability to communicate in a business-savvy manner while also maintaining
an adequate amount of technical know-how in the content

Excellent English language skills with an emphasis on conveying a business

message

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