BAENG101
Technical English
Communication
Module 1: Introduction & Core
Concepts
What is Technical
Communication?
• Technical communication is the process
of conveying specialised or technical
information clearly, accurately, and
effectively to a specific audience.
• It focuses on function, not flair.
• It helps readers understand, use, or
act on information.
• It includes written, spoken, and visual
forms of communication.
Why is it important?
• Because brilliant ideas are useless if no one
understands them.
• Engineers must explain how systems work,
why problems occur, and how to fix them.
• clarity can save time, money- even lives.
• Good communication builds credibility, avoids
misunderstanding, and supports teamwork.
• It’s essential for project documentation, client
updates, grant proposals, and global
collaboration.
Nature of Technical
Writing
• Objective, precise, and functional
writing
• Focus on usability, clarity, and
purpose
• Audience awareness is critical
• Avoids literary flair or personal tone
• Example: Instruction manuals, lab
procedures
Functional and
Instrumental
• Every sentence must do something
• Enables tasks, operations, decisions
• Examples: user manuals, SOPs, specs
• The writing itself becomes a tool
Objectivity ≠
Emotionless
• Avoids opinions, exaggeration, personal
voice
• But tone matters—especially in business
or public-facing docs
• Clear ≠ robotic
✖ “It seems like a bad idea to restart the
system.”
✔ “Rebooting may cause data loss if not
backed up.”
It’s Always Audience-
Specific
• Who’s reading? What do they know?
• A safety note for a factory worker ≠
technical report for an auditor
• Reader’s knowledge, context, and
risk matter
It Reduces Ambiguity
• Define key terms
• Use standard units, references, numbering
• Make steps reproducible
• If they can’t do it based on what you
wrote, your writing failed.
• “Check if everything is okay.”
• vs. “Verify that the pressure is between
30–35 psi.”
Structure and Hierarchy
Matter
• Common forms: headings, numbered
steps, diagrams
• Hierarchy helps users scan and act
fast
• Visual design is part of
communication
It Carries Responsibility
• Technical documents = contracts,
protocols, legal records
• Errors may lead to accidents, delays,
audits
• Ethical responsibility: write as if
someone’s depending on it
Think Like a Reader
• Who is going to read this?
• What do they need to do after
reading?
• What happens if they misunderstand
me?
What’s wrong?!
Example: Technical vs
Creative
• Creative: 'The machine hissed and
groaned like a beast'
• Technical: 'The machine emitted a
high-pitched whine before shutting
down'
• Which one helps a technician in a
lab?
• Why is objectivity crucial?
Taxonomy of Technical
Writing
• Scientific Papers: research-focused, data-
heavy
• Technical Reports: manuals, product
documentation
• Business Communication: emails, memos,
proposals
• Purpose, tone, and structure vary
• Overlap depending on context and
audience
5 Cs of Technical Writing
• Clarity – avoid ambiguity
• Conciseness – eliminate unnecessary words
• Completeness – cover all necessary info
• Correctness – factual and grammatical
accuracy
• Courtesy – respectful, reader-sensitive tone
Examples – The 5 Cs
• Clarity: 'Switch off the power' vs 'Cut the juice'
• Conciseness: Avoid redundancy (e.g., 'basic
fundamentals')
• Completeness: Mention all steps in a procedure
• Correctness: Accurate data, grammar,
terminology
• Courtesy: 'Please review' vs 'Review it now'
Introduction to Business Communication
• Everyday technical roles involve
communication
• Types: Emails, letters, SOPs, meeting minutes
• Focus on tone, structure, and audience
• To be covered in depth in later modules
Quick Practice Prompt
• You receive an email: Scholarship delayed due
to missing docs
• Write a 2-line response using 3 of the 5 Cs
• Example: 'Thank you for the update. I will
submit the documents today. Please let me
know if anything else is needed.'
Diagnostic Writing Task
• Write 100 words on: How to shut down a lab
machine safely
• Imagine the reader is a first-year student
• Apply today’s concepts: clarity, completeness,
etc.
• No AI tools – we’ll analyse this next class
