Technical Writing

Technical Writing FAQs

• What are the purposes of technical writing?

  Technical writing is designed to help people understand complex information such as user manuals, technical reports, software and any kind of technical product. The purpose of technical writing is to provide explanations, guidance and direction to help people get started with something new and use it effectively

• What are the different types of technical writing?

  The most common types are repair manuals and instructional manuals for consumer electronics such as phones, TVs, and computers. In relation to content marketing, technical writing can also focus on how to use a piece of software by publishing tutorials and how-to articles as well as to make the findings of medical and scientific research studies easier to understand.

• Why is technical writing important to business?

  Technical writing is important to business because it helps explain how to use their technical products and services. Without that, users might find it harder to get started and might decide to use competitors’ products and services instead. For a business to succeed, it’s essential to clearly communicate even the most technical aspects of its business in order to grow its user base or customer base. Providing guidance via technical communication is one of the best ways to achieve this aim.

• What are the main qualities of a technical communicator?

  A technical writer has highly valuable technical skills as well as communication skills that allow him to turn complex technical information easy to understand. Technical communicators are methodical, able to give step by step directions so they’re easy for users to follow. They have excellent language skills, and a solid grasp of spelling and grammar. They also are often knowledgeable in particular industries, making it easy for them to translate complicated subjects into straightforward language. Some technical writers also have design skills, enabling them to illustrate technical material with illustrations and screenshots.

• What are the steps followed for technical writing?

  Before starting, most writers want to know the audience so they can use the right tone and language. For manuals and how-to articles, technical communicators use products or services and document the steps needed to complete necessary tasks. In some cases, a company will also carry out user testing, to help the technical writers address common problems. Once all the technical information is collected, the writer prepares a draft, adds images where necessary and checks that it’s correct before submitting.

• Technical Writing vs. Science Writing: What's the Difference?

  Technical writing focuses on creating instruction manuals and other technical documentation to help people use products and services. Science writing aims to make complex scientific topics understandable. Science writing can include many written forms, such as articles, and essays. While both types of writing aim to simplify complicated material, they have different focuses. Finally, while science writers can get creative in explaining topics, technical communicators must stick to the facts.