TECHNICAL

WRITING
Characteristics
RECAP
 What is Technical Writing?
Practice of documenting process, conveying
technical and professional information by
text, writing about subjects that require
directions, instructions, or explanations,
using writing (communication skills) to make
complex information easy to decipher
TECHNICAL WRITING VS
CREATIVE WRITING
What type of writing is this?
It was a dark and stormy night. The wind
was howling, the shutters were banging
against the house, the rain was beating
down, and a dog howled in the distance. The
…..
TECHNICAL WRITING VS
CREATIVE WRITING
Now consider this
TECHNICAL WRITING VS
CREATIVE WRITING
 Technical writing lacks the emotional impact
 Technical writing avoids use of rich
metaphors and figures of speech.
 Typically sentence structures are simple and
direct.
 “Technical writing is precise, objective,
direct, and clearly defined.”
AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE
 Almost always known
 Typically know who the audience is
 Typically know why you are writing the document
and what the required content is
 Technical writing is often supported by
visualisations.
 Pictures/figures are an essential part of the
communication process.
USE OF JARGONS
 Must be avoided
 If used-Defined/Explained

Eg.
Beam Column
Bug
CHARACTERISTICS OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
1. Understanding the purpose
Inform/instruct/propose/recommend/persuad
e
2. Writing for the audience
3. Satisfying Document Specification
4. Providing Accurate Information
5. Organising information logically and linearly
Introduction-Body-Conclusion
CHARACTERISTICS OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
6. Expressing information clearly
7. Using correct wording
8. Making ideas/information accessible
9. Eliminating “noise”
10. Using appropriate writing style
TECHNICAL WRITING PROMPT
Task: Prepare 3 step instructions for a software
installation guide