EL9 TECHNICAL WRITNG

MIDTERM EXAM – REVIEWER

TECHNICAL WRITING - to provide instructions or explain technical concepts regarding

environmental regulations, computer applications or medical procedures. It is a form of
communication that professionals use to convey information about specialized topics

EXAMPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING

- User Manual / User Guide - Standard Operating Procedures
- Abstract - Corporate Documents
- Business Plan - Policies and Procedures
- Assemble Manual - Baking Procedures / Cookbook

CHARACTERISTICS OR PROPERTIES OF TECHNICAL WRITING

1. Accurate – uses words, sentences, numbers, or figures that exactly expresses what the
written work intends to convey. It avoids the frequent use of expressions for hedging
such as may, perhaps, maybe, seen, apparently, would, etc.

2. Clear – use of simple, concise, specific, and grammatically correct language structures.

3. Formal – must adhere to these agreed upon technical writing rules such, the structure,
pattern, format, and language of this kind of writing.

4. Graphical – graphs like tables, charts., figures, diagrams, maps, pictures, and other
illustrations are necessary in technical writing.

5. Objective – avoids revealing your individual thinking, personal meaning, or emotional

attitude about your subject matter:
 Use passive voice instead of active voice structures.
 Use third-person point of view by using words like his/her, they, or the user, instead of
the personalized first person of view like, I, We, Me, Ours, and the like.
 Downplay the subject or personal nature of the text by avoiding the use of emotive words
like dissatisfied, uninteresting, or undignified.

6. Practical – tackles up things you can practice in everyday life situations like designing,
constructing, repairing, selling, traveling, buying, bidding, inquiring, cooking,
painting, and many others.

7. Procedural – it presents facts and information in a systematic or methodical manner.

8. Special – writing something to cater to a specific set of people. Inclined to be exclusive

and selective of its topic, language, methodology, and readers, this kind of writing is
special, unique, or extra different from the other modes of writing.

9. Diversionary – must always be “sensitive to pitfalls” or hidden dangers from diversities

in a multi-cultural environment.

10. Straightforward – presenting knowledge or ideas honestly and directly. It has to be

direct, specific, and simple.

11. Authoritative – technical papers are properly cited and documented ideas of
knowledgeable writers of technical writing books in your work such in-text citations,
footnotes, and bibliographical entries.
 12. Presentable – focusing on the basic elements of a written prosaic work; margin,
spacing, punctuation marks, size/style of the letter, and quality/size of the stationery or
bondpaper.

QUALITIES OF A TECHNICAL WRITER

1. Superior Communication Skills - Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are the four
basic communication skills that any kind of writer must master, to be able to exchange
ideas excellently with others.

2. HOTS or Higher-Order Thinking Skills – ought to practice critical and evaluative

thinking. To distinguish the most important issues from the most insignificant ones.

3. Persuasive Skills – To know and practice the art of persuasive writing (to persuade or to
convince).

4. Integrity – To erode integrity or honesty.

5. Zest/Enthusiasm – to turn anything difficult to something that is easy and enjoyable.

LANGUAGE OF TECHNICAL WRITING

1. Practice Conciseness – expressing fewest number of words at the same time retaining
completeness in meaning.
2. Express your ideas in active voice rather than in passive voice.

3. Use non-sexist words instead of sexist language by expressing yourself in the

following ways:

a. Using plural pronouns instead of single pronoun

Do not Say:
1. The technician has to show his I.D card to the guard.
2. Each reporter should submit his monthly report on time.

Say:

1. The technicians have to show their I.D cards to the guard.

2. Reporters should submit their work on time.

b. Using 2nd person point of view instead of 3rd person point of view.

Do not Say:
1. She presented her proposal report on time.
2. The customer showed his receipt to the guard.

Say:

1. Present your proposal report on time.

2. Show your receipt to the guard.

c. Using expressions like He or She – him or her. Avoid using a slash mark – He/She –
him/her. Others however find He or She – him or her wordy, hence, they prefer using
the plural form – their, or the 2nd person point of view – you.

Do not Say:
1. The customer explained her point to the manager.
2. The x-ray technician affixed his signature to the document.
3. She is willing to pay any amount for his choice.

Say:

1. The customer explained his or her signature point to the manager.

2. The architect affixed his or her signature to the document.
3. He or she is willing to pay any amount for his or her choice.
4. Avoid using words that explicitly favor one gender.

5. Avoid using jargons, gobbledygook, horse-and-buggy, or verbal dead words

Examples:
 Legal profession – habeas, corpus, subpoena, status, quo, preliminary injunction, corpus
deficit.
 Business world – rebate, assets and liabilities, amortization, mortgage, balance sheet,
investment.
 Medical world – stethoscope, hypertension, differential diagnosis, formaldehyde, silver
nitrate, metrectomy.
 Computer world – user-friendly, on-line adapter, debug, open shop, quick-access storage,
scramble time.
 Teaching profession – lesson plan, grade sheet, intrinsic motivation, systemic-functional
grammar, communicati

6. Give careful attention to words and phrases that are commonly misused and
misspelled.

a. Accept – to take something seriously.

Except – to exclude a rule or statement from a list.

b. Adapt – to adjust or to be in harmony with somebody.

Adopt – to make a person own a thing belonging to another person

c. Affect – a verb to mean having an influence on another person or thing.

Effect – a result coming from a cause.

d. Already – by this time or before a particular moment.

All ready – state of being fit or balanced for an immediate action or use.
 e. Between – a preposition for only two person, things, or places.
Among – a preposition for three or more persons, places, or things.

f. Counsel – a person serving as a legal adviser.

Council – a body or group of persons to discuss a moral or legal aspect of thing.

g. Credible – believable
Creditable – quite good; more than just satisfactory.

h. Dessert – (noun) sweet food served at the end of the meal.

Dessert – (noun) large area of land with not enough vegetation
Desert – (verb) to abandon; to break off from; to give up.

i. Differ from – not the same in observation.

Differ with – not the same in opinion.

j. Emigrant – a person going out of the country

Immigrant – a person going into a country not his own.

k. Lie – an intransitive verb which means to be in a reclining or horizontal position.

Lay – a transitive verb which means to place.

l. Loose – (adjective) not fastened or firmly fixed.

Lose – (verb) to fail to see something; to become unable to find.

m. Practical – useful at all times (for persons and things)

Practicable – can be practiced or applied (for things only)

n. Principal – main chief or first of importance

Principle – basic truth or rule.

o. Respectfully – giving full respect or consideration to someone.

Respectably – doing something that will earn other people’s respect.
Respectively – referring to series of things following a certain arrangement.

SHORTENING WORDS AND PHRASES.

1. An additional package will be forwarded to you by means of LBC in the near future.
Shortened: Another package will be forwarded to you by means of LBC soon.

2. At this point in time, a modification of the mode of delivery is disadvantageous.

Shortened: This time, the change of the mode of delivery is disadvantageous.
3. He came to a conclusion that the investigation of the business firm by Mr. Santos is
necessary for the maintenance of the company’s good reputation.
Shortened: He concluded that Mr. Santos, should investigate the business to maintain the
company’s reputation.

4. The development of the legal case went so slow that both parties made an agreement
for the termination of the case.
Shortened: The development of the legal case went too slow, both parties agreed to
terminate the case.

5. According to own records, you worked for DRB company for five years.
Shortened: Records show that you worked for DRB company for five years.

6. This is to request you good office of the status of my temporary appointment.

Shortened: I am requesting your office about the status of my temporary appointment.

7. Be guided by your past experiences in reporting about the case.

Shortened: Refer in your experiences in reporting the case.

8. That’s the reason why I have to be an experienced technical writer.

Shortened: I have to be an experienced technical writer.

9. A gas leakage test must be concluded by a group of electricians.

Shortened: The electrician must conduct a gas leakage test.

10. A widening of the gap was caused by electrode wear.

Shortened: Electrode wear caused the widening of the gap.

“STUDY NOW, BE PROUD LATER.”