EN 3560 Technical Writing Fundamentals

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What Is Technical Writing?

Technical writing is the craft of transferring information from those who know, to those who need to know (Barnum & Carliner, 1993).  It is also called technical communication, information development, and content development.

As reporters uncover facts about situations in the community, place them in a useful context for readers, and present them either online, through television, newspapers or magazines, so technical writers and business communicators unearth facts about the use of products, policies, or concepts in the world of work, place them in a useful context for readers, and present them online (usually through web pages, tutorials, help systems, demonstrations, webzines, and online catalogs), in print (usually through user's guides, references, reports, and newsletters), and through videos. 

In the process of presenting information in a useful context, content developers do the following:

• Determine their purpose and audience
• Define new terms
• Explain concepts
• Present instructions
• Determine whether to present concepts verbally (with words) or visually
• Design screens and pages so readers can most easily find and understand information
• Use language precisely and concisely so readers understand concepts on the first read-through
• Motivate readers to feel confident that they can apply the concepts

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