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 AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
1. DEFINE TECHNICAL WRITING;
2. ENUMERATE THE END PRODUCTS OF TECHNICAL WRITING;
3. USE AS GUIDE THE PRINCIPLE OF TECHNICAL WRITING;
4. DEFINE TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION;
5. EXPLAIN THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD ENGLISH WRITER; AND
6. APPLY THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN TECHNICAL WRITING.

Wen the world ushered in the 21st century, many things changed and advanced
in various fields and disciplines. These changes and advancements were prompted
by the rapid pace of technology.
Technology as we know today has permeated human beings’ lifestyles, hence,
more advanced thinkers believe that we have work with technology.
Although this is the trend now, we cannot do away with traditional forms.
Even if we live in a highly technical world and all sectors in the society including
schools are affected by the lure to absorb modern technology, there is still a need to
preserve older forms of communication.in the field of language teaching, the
effective use of teaching of technical language becomes more pronounced most
especially in the science, information technology, and engineering and technology
fields. Thus, a course or a program intended for the teaching of Technical Report
Writing seems to be the best answer to the clamor for a more appropriate from of
language teaching that meets the specific vocabulary of professional and technical
writing is being given premium in improving the language of men and women who
are to become the prime movers of the future.

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 DISCUSSION
Acclaimed proponents of technical writing Mills and Walter (1981) gave
several definitions to aid us in understanding the nature of technical writing.
According to them:
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.
The students perhaps, Technical Writing may just be a requirement to pass an
assignment, but to professionals, it may be any of the following which is required to
fulfill task. These are the products of technical writing.
• A business letter is a type of written communication. It is written using
formal language and follows formal elements of letter writing. People
usually write business letters to communicate with companies,
organizations or individuals with the purpose of applying for a job, making
requests, seeking appointments, etc.
• Contract is a written agreement between two people under mutually
agreed terms.
• Monograph is a detailed essay or book on a very specific topic. It is
usually written by professionals or academicians on topics of interest
concerning their specific fields.
• Printed action memo is a ready-format memorandum that only requires a
checkmark on the appropriate box that contains the message. This is
especially useful for busy people who need to make quick decisions and
act on the circumstances or situation.
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 • Graphic aids are drawings, sketches and illustrations that aid the readers
in understanding the presented data.
• Instructional manuals are written to guide the readers on how to
assemble, maintain, and operate an apparatus machine and gadgets.
• Brochures are pamphlets or flyers that endorse a product in such a way
that the potential customer will be convinced that the product is effective
and eventually avail of the product.
• Proposals are written suggestions on how to make the company or
organizations more productive and successful. Most companies and
organizations require this before an agreement is reached.
• Memoranda are inter-office written communication used to disseminate
information.

In today’s world, the demand for accomplishing more-written outputs makes

a professional who is skilled in this area, all the more, needed. In whatever field, a
skilled technical writer is needed, thus, taking note of the FIVE IMPORTANT
PRINCIPLES IN GOOD TECHNICAL WRITING separates a talented
technical writer from an ordinary writer. Bear in mind the following:
1. Always have in mind a specific reader, real or imaginary, when you are
writing a report. Always assume that he is intelligent, but uninformed.
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 the purpose.
3. Use language that is simple, concrete, and familiar.
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.

On the other hand, while bearing in mind, the important principles of technical
writing, it would also help to distinguish the purpose of technical writing so that
we do not confuse technical writing with other writing forms. So, what are the
purpose of technical writing?
1. It serves as basis for management decision.
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 2. It furnishes needed information.
3. It gives instructions.
4. It records business transactions through proposals.
5. It procures business proposals.
6. It serves as basis for public relations.
7. It provides report to stockholders of companies.

PROPERTIES OF TECHNICAL WRITING

The following properties of technical writing are also known as
‘considerations” when writing technical reports.
1. Subject matter. In writing technical papers, you must ask the question,
“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. When thinking about audience, ask “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. Expressions. This property refers to two basic modes in which a technical
report has 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, objective, 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 general, and use illustrations to present the
information.

Earlier, technical writing is treated as a unique form of written

communication because

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of its important qualities, purposes, and properties. Let us elucidate it further by
enumerating striking differences between this form of writing which is more formal
and academic compared to other writing forms. For instance, writing can be
grouped into five basic types:

• Technical writing conveys specific information about a technical

subject to a specific audience for a specific purpose.
• Creative writing is fiction- poetry, short stories, plays, and novels---
and far different from technical writing.
• 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.
• Expository writing “exposes” a topic analytically and objectively,
such as news 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.
• Persuasive writing depends on emotional appeal. Its goals to change
one’s attitudes or motivate him/her to action.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TECHNICAL WRITING & CREATIVE

WRITING

Writers have different writing styles. There are writers who are more included
to the straightforward or direct form of writing while others are on the creative or
literary. Below are differences between technical writing and creative writing based
on content, audience, purpose, style, tone, vocabulary, and organization.

Technical writing Creative writing

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Content Factual, straight-forward Imaginative, metamorphic, 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 Sequential, systematic Arbitrary, artistic

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