TECHNICAL WRITING

Examples of technical writing

user manuals, instructions and training materials,

maintenance manuals, software documentation,
online help for games and software, advertising copy,
data books and catalogs, instructional posters,
speeches and presentations, presentation materials,
press releases, newsletters, cookbooks and clothing
patterns, scripts for training and promotional videos,
business letters, resumes and cover letters, contracts,
proposals, grants, feasibility reports, training
materials, questionnaires and forms, research and
scientific papers.
 Goal of Technical Writing

to clearly communicate a select piece of information

to a targeted reader or group of readers for a
particular purpose in such a way that the subject can
readily be understood.
It is expository writing that requires a response from
the reader.
 Purpose of Technical Writing

To inform: to provide information without

expecting any action on the part of the reader?
To instruct: to give information in the form of
directions, instructions, procedures, so that readers
will be able to do something?
To propose: to respond to a request for proposals
(RFP) or to suggest a plan of action for a specific
problem?
 Purpose of Technical Writing

To recommend: to suggest an action or series

of actions based on alternative possibilities that
have been evaluated?
To persuade: to convince readers to take
action, to change their attitudes or behaviors
based on valid opinions and evidence?
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

1. Creative writing is factual and

imaginative while technical
writing is fictional.
2. Creative writing is entertaining,
provocative, and captivating while
technical writing is informative,
instructional, or persuasive.
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

3. Creative writing can be clear, precise,

and straightforward artistic, but
technical writing needs to be
figurative, symbolic, ambiguous, even
vague leaving no room for
misinterpretations. It needs to follow
accepted standards for grammar and
format, while technical writing can
break the rules.
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

4. Creative writing is
objective, with the
thoughts, opinions, and
attitudes of the writer.
Technical writing must be
subjective.
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

5. Creative writing uses a general

vocabulary understood by a general
audience narrowed somewhat by age
group or interest. Technical writing
uses specialized vocabulary
dependent on the topic as well as on
the familiarity of the target audience
with the topic.
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

6. Creative writing can be lucrative for

the few who create best sellers but
technical writing provides career
opportunities with good salaries for
thousands and thousands of writers
in all kinds of businesses and
industries.
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing
ANSWERS

1. Creative writing is factual and

imaginative while technical
FALSE
writing is fictional.
2. Creative writing is entertaining,
provocative, and captivating while
technical writing is informative,
instructional, or persuasive.TRUE
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

3. Creative writing can be clear, precise,

and straightforward artistic, but
technical writing needs to be
figurative, symbolic, ambiguous, even
vague leaving no room for
misinterpretations. It needs to follow
accepted standards for grammar and
format, while technical writing can
break the rules. FALSE
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

4. Creative writing is
objective, with the
thoughts, opinions, and
attitudes of the writer.
Technical writing must be
subjective. FALSE
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

5. Creative writing uses a general

vocabulary understood by a general
audience narrowed somewhat by age
group or interest. Technical writing
uses specialized vocabulary
dependent on the topic as well as on
the familiarity of the target audience
with the topic. TRUE
 Creative Writing versus Technical Writing

6. Creative writing can be lucrative for

the few who create best sellers but
technical writing provides career
opportunities with good salaries for
thousands and thousands of writers
in all kinds ofTRUE
businesses and
industries.