Types of Technical Writings

TYPES OF TECHNICAL WRITINGS
1. Traditional Technical Writing- While traditional technical writing sounds broad, pieces

of content within this category are specifically written for professional audiences. These
experts rely on traditional technical writing for targeted research papers, programming
guidelines, and repair manuals.
a. Science and Medical Papers- Research results can be hard to explain, so
scientists collaborate with technical writers to interpret and organize
findings. These papers act as learning resources for practitioners to understand
procedures and results. As with any form of research, technical writers ensure that
proper credibility is given in the text.
b. Professional Reports and Review- In addition to writing for scientists and
doctors, technical writers assist in creating reports for business growth and
educational institutions. Examples of professional reports include project and
business status reports, legal case reviews, and personnel activity reports.
2. End-User Documentation- Almost every product you purchase has a written
explanation of operation. These “how-to” pieces are written to help users understand and
operate products correctly. Since end-user documentation requires clear and concise
instruction, it’s important to create content that breaks down technological terms to
layman’s terms.
a. User Help Guides- When software product users have questions that needs
specific answers, they turn to user help guides. These are written to provide clear
and sensible answers to common questions that may develop as use of software
programs continue. User help guides are broken down into sections depending on
the type of ‘help’ needed – allowing users to read ahead or re-read information to
make their understanding of a product stronger.EXAMPLE:
b. Product Manuals- Product manuals are those small booklets that highlight a

product’s main features, general maintenance, and basic operation. It contains written
guidelines informing the audience how to use a certain product.
EXAMPLE:
c. Assembly Guidelines - Since assembly guidelines tell users how to physically
set up a product, technical writers are responsible for writing clear and user-friendly,
step-by-step instructions. It’s important for these instructions to be written in a way that
ensure users can accurately assemble products.
EXAMPLE:
3. Technical Marketing Content

-Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing
valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and,
ultimately, to drive profitable customer action. The primary goal of marketing content, is to
convince the reader to buy a product or service.
a. Brochures- Brochures take users to a deeper level of understanding and
appeal through clear descriptions, functions, and uses of a product. It is intended to
provide customers with additional information on corporate offerings, and are used
by sales personnel to persuade customers to purchase a product. The brochure – also
called a data sheet, product brief or solution brief – describes the main features of the
product, any specifications for its use and is usually accompanied by either a picture
of the product or an architectural design, illustrating the solution.
EXAMPLE:
Basic Principles of Good Technical Writing

We are done with the different types of technical writing needed in a specific profession. Now,
are to move on to our next topic which is about the Basic Principles of Good Technical Writing.
Have you ever wonder how do technical writers write direct and specific instructions? What
principles do they follow to make technical writings? What are the qualities of technical writer to
make a good technical instructions?

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GOOD TECHNICAL WRITING
Technical writing is one of the most important elements of a company's customer support
strategy, and these five principles that technical writers must bear in mind to be successful.
Inattention to any of these five areas often leads to a substandard document and dissatisfaction
on the client end.

Mills and Walter (1980: 13-14) identified the basic principles as follows:
1. Always bear in mind a specific reader, real or imaginary, when you are
writing a report; and always assume that he is intelligent but uninformed.
 An awareness of who is going to read a user guide, the knowledge
gap that the user guide is filling and the delivery method of the guide all play important roles.
2. Before you start to write, always decide what the exact purpose of your
report is; and make sure that every paragraph, every sentence, every word makes a clear
contribution to that purpose and makes it at the right time.
 Before beginning any writing task, the writer analyzes audience
and identifies the purpose for the document. The writer asks following questions about the
audience:* Who will read the document?* What are their biases?* What are technical writer’s
ethical responsibilities when communicating this to audience?
 With regard to purpose, technical writers ask: what should this
document accomplish? What should it do? Should it:* Inform* Request* Instruct* Suggest*
Order* Report* Reply* Analyse/ critique* Compare
3. Use language that is simple, concrete, and familiar.
 Different types of writing have different audiences, and each
audience has its own linguistic needs, which the writer respects with tone and word choice.
4. At the beginning and end of every section of your report, check your
writing according to this principle: First you tell the reader what you’re going to tell him, then
you tell him what you’ve told him.
5. Make your report attractive to look at.

Types of Technical Writings

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TYPES OF TECHNICAL WRITINGS

1. Traditional Technical Writing- While traditional technical writing sounds broad, pieces

b. Product Manuals- Product manuals are those small booklets that highlight a

3. Technical Marketing Content

Basic Principles of Good Technical Writing

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