The Nature of Technical Communication

What do you read or create everyday without realizing?
Everyday, you read or create technical communication without realizing.

What does the National Commission on Writing for America's Families, Schools, and Colleges declare about writing?
The National Commission on Writing for America's Families, Schools, and Colleges declares that writing is not a frill for a few, but an essential skill for the many.

Much of what is important in American public and economic life depends on strong ... and ... communication skills.
Much of what is important in American public and economic life depends on strong written and oral communication skills.

So How Do we Define this Kind of Writing?

What does the word "document" refer to throughout the book?
Throughout the book, the word "document" refers to any kind of technical writing, including web pages, instruction manuals, lab reports, or travel brochures.

What are the two aspects of technical communication?
The two aspects of technical communication are:

  1. The process of making and sharing ideas and information in the workplace.
  2. The genres which comprise the documents you write, including letters, emails, instructions, reports, proposals, websites, and blogs.

What does STC stand for in the context of technical communication?
In the context of technical communication, STC stands for Society of Technical Communications.

How does the Society of Technical Communications (STC) define technical communication?
The STC defines technical communication as a broad field which involves any form of communication that does any of the following:

  • Discusses technical or specialized topics.
  • Uses technology such as web pages or help files.
  • Provides instructions about how to do something.

When was Technical Writer recognized as a profession by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics?
Technical Writer was recognized as a profession by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2009.

What questions should you ask when analyzing technical documents?
When analyzing technical documents, you should ask:

  • Who is the target audience?
  • What information does this document provide?
  • What task or goal will it help to accomplish?
  • What elements of this document do you think make it useful?
  • Does it solve a problem?
  • Is it concise and accurate?
  • Would you say this is an effective document?

What are the characteristics of technical writing?
The characteristics of technical writing include:

  • Focused on audience.
  • Rhetorical, persuasive, purposeful, and problem-oriented.
  • Professional.
  • Design centered.
  • Research and technology oriented.
  • Ethical.
  • Socially just.
  • Accessible.

What standards should you observe to produce the best writing you can?
The standards you should observe to produce the best writing you can are:

  • Honesty - Trustworthiness in the community reflects on you personally and your organization or discipline.
  • Clarity - Leave no room for misinterpretations.
  • Accuracy - Present factual information.
  • Completeness - Include everything the reader needs to understand the text.
  • Simplicity - Cut excessive verbiage.
  • Design - Present in a visually appealing way.
  • Considerate - Write with all of your possible audiences in mind.

How do you ensure your technical writing is legible?
To ensure your technical writing is legible:

  • Make the font large enough to be read by a variety of audiences.
  • Use an easy-to-read font style that is appropriate for the content.

What does it mean for a technical document to be readable?
For a technical document, to be readable means to easily be understood by the target audience.

How do you ensure your technical writing is comprehensible?
To ensure your technical writing is comprehensible:

  • Use language and terminology familiar to the reader.
  • Limit paragraphs to one idea.
  • Strive for brevity if your audience will be reading on smaller devices.
  • Use visuals like charts or diagrams.

What does it mean for a technical document to be accessible?
For a technical document, to be accessible means to ensure all users have an equal opportunity to engage with the document.