Technical Writing includes the following:
- Manuals (user manuals, training manuals, operators’ manuals, service manuals, etc.)
- Procedures
- Proposals
- Reports
- Specifications
- Technical articles
- Patents
- Editing/proofreading
Effective technical writing faithfully conveys data to the reader in a manner that is clear, easy to read, and concise. It adheres to standard conventions, helping readers to quickly find the information they need. It uses terms that the intended audience can readily understand. Well-written technical documents make a project progress more smoothly. It is effective communication about technical subjects in written form.
Poor technical writing wastes time, causes errors, generates confusion and creates liability.
Thus, the quality of technical writing has a heavy impact, for better or for worse.
Technical writing is both a mechanical discipline and an art. The mechanical discipline includes accuracy, proper grammar, punctuation, layout, citations, and nomenclature. The art lies in organizing and explaining the information in a way that the reader can easily and quickly grasp. Without dumbing down the content, it presents even complex topics in a simple way. If the mechanical aspects are there, but the art is missing, you get a sharp-looking document with no obvious errors that you have to struggle to understand. If the art is there, but the mechanics were overlooked, the errors overshadow the content.
Proper technical writing should always be a priority, never an afterthought.
Contact Bowen Technical for your technical writing needs.
+1.530.826.4872 (USA) or +52.677.879.0565 (Mexico)
galen@bowentechnical.com