Technical and Business Writing

Nature of Technical Writing

Technical Writing is writing about scientific subjects and about

various technical subjects associated with the sciences

Technical Writing is characterized by certain formal elements,

such as its scientific and technical vocabulary, its use of graphic
aids, and its use of conventional report forms.

Technical Writing is ideally characterized by the maintenance

of an attitude of impartiality and objectivity, by extreme care to
convey information accurately and concisely, and by the
absence of any attempt to arouse emotion.

Technical Writing is writing in which there is relatively high

concentration of certain complex and important writing
techniques, in particular description of mechanisms, description
of process, definition, classification, and interpretation.
 Products of Technical Writing

Business Letter Contract Monograph

Is a type of written
communication. It is written is a written agreement is a detailed essay or book on a
using formal language and between two people under very specific topic. It is usually
follows formal elements of letter mutually agreed terms. written by professional or
writing.
academician on topics of interest
People usually write business
concerning their specific fields.
letters to communicate with
companies, organizations or
individuals with the purpose of
applying for a job, making
requests, seeking appointments,
etc.
 Products of Technical Writing

Printed action Graphic Aids Instructional

memo
is a ready-format memorandum
they only requires a checkmark
on appropriate box that contains
the message. This is especially
useful for busy people who need
to make quick decisions and act
on the circumstance or
situation.
are drawing, sketches and
illustrations that aid the readers
in understanding the presented
data.
manuals
are written to guide the
readers on how to assemble,
maintain and operate an
apparatus, machine or gadget.
 Products of Technical Writing

Brochures Proposals Memoranda

are pamphlets or flyers that are written suggestions on how
endorse a product in such a way to make the company or are inter-office written
that the potential customer will organizations require this communication used to
be convinced that the product is before an agreement is disseminate information.
effective and eventually avail of reached.
the product.
 Five Important Principles in Good Technical
Writing
 
1. Always have in mind a specific reader, real or imaginary. Always
assume that he is intelligent, but uninformed.

2. Before your start writing, always decide your purpose. Every part
of every sentence in a paragraph direct towards the purpose of
write-up.

3. Use simple, concrete, and familiar languages.

4. At the beginning and end of every section of your report, check

your writing according to this principle: “first tell the readers what
you’re going to tell them, then tell them what you’ve told them.

5. Make your report attractive.

 
Properties of Technical Writing

1. Subject Matter. “What will I write about?”. The subject matter is an

essential element in technical report writing. Some examples of this are
description of a process, writing about a theory, or submitting a policy.
2. Audience. “Whom am I writing for? Or who are my intended readers?”.
This is a property which pertains to a particular reader of a technical
literature.
3. Expression. This property refers to toe basic models in which technical
reports have to be delivered – writing it or reading it. Your expression of
the content will depend on your awareness of your audience’s/ reader’s
psychology and your style in writing to be able to reach your audience’s
reader’s understanding.
4. Style. This refers to how the material is written. A technical writer uses
clear, specific point of view, objectives, impartial, and unemotional style
in writing.
5. Arrangement of materials. This pertains to how ideas should be
organized in chronological, spatial or logical order, from general to
specific or specific to genera;, and use illustrations to present the
information.
 Five Basic Types of Writing
1. Technical writing conveys specific information about a technical subject to a
specific audience for a specific purpose.

2. Creative writing is a fiction – poetry, short stories, plays, and novels – and far
different from technical writing.

3. Expressive writing is a subjective response to a personal experience – journals

and diaries – whereas technical writing might be objective observations of a work-
related experience or research.

4. Expository writing “exposes” a topic analytically and objectively, such as new

reports. Like technical writing the goal of expository writing is to explain or reveal
knowledge, but expository writing does not necessarily expect a response or action
from the reader.

5. Persuasive writing depends on emotional appeal. Its goal is to change one’s

attitudes or motivate him/her to action.
 
 
 
 Differences between Technical Writing and Creating Writing
Technical Writing Creative Writing

Content Factual, straight – forward Imaginative, metaphoric or

symbolic
Audience Specific General

Purpose Inform, instruct, persuade Entertain, provoke, captivate

Style Formal, standard, academic Informal, artistic, figurative

Tone Objective Subjective

Vocabulary Specialized General, evocative

organization Arbitrary, artistic

Sequential, systematic
Teacher Yannie