See examples of user guides. Style and Format for User Guides. A user guide is a combination of many things presented in this online textbook. At its core is instruction writing; you need to be good at the writing style, headings, lists, notices, highlighting, tables, graphics commonly used in instructions.
Technical writing is writing or drafting technical communication used in technical and occupational fields, such as computer hardware and software, engineering, chemistry, aeronautics, robotics, finance, medical, consumer electronics, biotechnology, and forestry. Technical writing encompasses the largest sub-field within technical communication.[1]
The Society for Technical Communication defines technical communication as any form of communication that exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: '(1) communicating about technical or specialized topics, such as computer applications, medical procedures, or environmental regulations; (2) communicating by using technology, such as web pages, help files, or social media sites; or (3) providing instructions about how to do something, regardless of how technical the task is'.[2]
Overview[edit]
Technical writing is performed by a technical writer (or technical author) and is the process of writing and sharing information in a professional setting.[3]:4 A technical writer's primary task is to convey information to another person or party in the most clear and effective manner possible.[3]:4 The information that technical writers convey is often complex, and it is one of their main tasks to analyze the information and present it in a format that is easy to read and understand.[3]:12–14A good technical writer needs strong writing and communication skills. They do not only convey information through text, and must be proficient with computers as well. They use a wide range of programs to create and edit illustrations, diagramming programs to create visual aids, and document processors to design, create, and format documents.[4]
While commonly associated with online help and user manuals, technical writing covers a wide range of genres and technologies. Press releases, memos, reports, business proposals, datasheets, product descriptions and specifications, white papers, résumés, and job applications are but a few examples of documents that are considered forms of technical writing.[5]
History[edit]
While technical writing has only been recognized as a profession since World War II,[6]:2 its roots can be traced to classical antiquity.[7]:233 Critics cite the works of writers like Aristotle as the earliest forms of technical writing.[7]:234 Geoffrey Chaucer's work, Treatise on the Astrolabe, is an early example of a technical document and is considered to be the first technical document published in English.[8] Studio one 3 user manual.
With the invention of the mechanical printing press, the onset of the Renaissance and the rise of the Age of Reason, documenting findings became a necessity, and inventors and scientists like Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci prepared documents that chronicled their inventions and findings.[6]:1 While never called technical documents during their period of publication, these documents played a crucial role in developing modern forms of technical communication and writing.[6]
The field of technical communication grew during the Industrial Revolution.[9]:3 This increased the need to instruct people how to use the more and more complex machines that were being invented and used.[9]:8 However, unlike the past, where skills were handed down through oral traditions, no one besides the inventors knew how to use these new devices. Writing thus became the fastest and most effective way to disseminate information, and writers who could document these devices were desired.[9]
During the 20th century, the need for technical writing skyrocketed, and the profession finally became officially recognized. The events of World War I and World War II led to advances in medicine, military hardware, computer technology, and aerospace technologies.[6]:2 This rapid growth, coupled with the urgency of war, created an immediate need for well-designed and written documents that chronicled the use of these technologies. Technical writing was in high demand during this time, and became an official job title during World War II.[6]:1
Following World War II, technological advances led to an increase in consumer goods and standards of living.[6]:3 During the post-war boom, public services like libraries and universities, as well as transport systems like buses and highways saw massive amounts of growth, and the need for writers to chronicle these processes increased.[6]:1 It was also during this period that computers started being used in large businesses and universities. Notably, in 1949, Joseph D. Chapline authored the first computational technical document, an instruction manual for the BINAC computer.[10]
The discovery of the transistor in 1947 allowed computers to be produced more cheaply than ever before.[6]:3 These cheaper prices meant that computers could now be purchased by individuals and small businesses.[6]:3 And as a result of the computer's growing prominence, the need for writers who could explain and document these devices grew.[6]:3 The profession of technical writing saw further expansion during the 1970s and 1980s as consumer electronics found their way into the homes of more and more people.[6]
Technical Writing Instruction Manual
In recent years, the prominence of computers in society has led to many advances in the field of digital communications, leading to many changes in the tools technical writers use.[6]:3Hypertext, word processors, graphics editing programs, and page layout software have made the creation of technical documents faster and easier than ever before, and technical writers of today must be proficient in these programs.[3]:8–9
Techniques[edit]
Good technical writing is concise, focused, easy to understand, free of errors, and audience-based.[11]:7 Technical writers focus on making their documents as clear as possible, avoiding overly technical phrases and stylistic choices like passive voice and nominalizations.[3]:236–245 Because technical documents are used in real-world situations, it should always be explicitly clear what the subject matter of a technical document is and what should be done with the presented information. It would be disastrous if, for example, a technical writer's instructions on how to use a high-powered X-ray machine were difficult to decipher.
Technical writing requires a writer to extensively examine their audience.[3]: 84–114 A technical writer needs to be aware of their audience's existing knowledge about the material they are discussing as the knowledge base of the writer's audience will determine the content and focus of a document.[3]: 84–114 For example, an evaluation report discussing a scientific study's findings that is written to a group of highly skilled scientists will be very differently constructed than one intended for the general public. Technical writers do not have to be subject-matter experts (SMEs) themselves and generally collaborate with SMEs to complete tasks that require more knowledge about a subject than they possess.[3]:51
Technical writing must be accurate. A technical writer, after analyzing their audience, knows what they are trying to communicate. The goal from there is to convey the message in an accurate and ethical manner. Physical, environmental, or financial repercussions could result if a writer does this incorrectly. Knowing the audience is important to accuracy because the language will be tailored according to what they understand about the subject at hand. For example, instructions on how to correctly and safely build a bookshelf are included when purchased. Those instructions are constructed so that anyone could follow along, including accurate details as to where each fastener goes. If those instructions were inaccurate, the bookshelf could be unstable and fail.[12]
Document design and layout are also very important components of technical writing.[3]:261–286 Technical writers spend large amounts of time ensuring their documents are readable, because a poorly designed document hampers a reader's comprehension. Technical document design stresses proper usage of document design choices like bullet points, font-size, and bold text.[13] Images, diagrams, and videos are also commonly employed by technical writers because these media can often convey complex information, like a company's annual earnings or a product's design features, far more efficiently than text.[3]:306–307
Technical documents[edit]
Technical writing covers many genres and writing styles depending on the information and audience.[3]:84–114 Technical documents are not solely produced by technical writers. Almost anyone who works in a professional setting produces technical documents of some variety. Some examples of technical writing include:
Tools[edit]
The following tools are used by technical writers to author and present documents:
List of associations[edit]References[edit]
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Technical_writing&oldid=928049741'
Technical communication is a field that focuses on providing information to users who need assistance to accomplish a defined goal or task. The purpose of technical communication is not to entertain people. The focus of technical communication is to assist users who need specific information on using products, completing tasks, operating equipment, and completing other types of activities.
Technical communicators work with other professionals to maintain the quality of product documentation. Technical communicators work collaboratively with sales personnel, engineers, programmers, graphic designers, quality control personnel, and client support personnel to ensure that product documentation meets the needs of users.
What’s the difference between technical communication and technical writing?
Technical communication and technical writing are basically the same thing. Technical communication is a newer term that describes a field that is growing to include additional skills such as information design, user experience design and instructional design. Both fields share the same goal of creating clear and organized content that helps users to achieve specific goals.
Technical communication skills
The field of technical communication encompasses a number of related disciplines that include:
What do technical writers do?
As a technical writer, you are expected to be able to:
Technical writers interpret the thoughts and ideas of engineers, programmers, and marketing managers by translating complex concepts and procedures into simple English. As a technical writer, you are a technical “interpreter” since you must:
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Not just manuals
Technical writing is not limited to user manuals. Technical writers may be called on to produce different types of technical documents. These technical documents have many similar features and requirements, but some documents, such as websites, have more specific requirements.
Technical writers produce documents that include:
Computer skills
In addition to writing skills, technical writers should have solid computer skills. Technical writers should have basic knowledge of using applications that are typically used in a technical writing environment. Popular applications include Microsoft Office, Adobe Framemaker, RoboHelp, Madcap Flare, Adobe Photoshop, Snagit, HTML editors, and XML editors. You don’t need to be an expert in all of these applications, but you should have a basic ability to use software applications to write technical content.
If you would like to get training and practical experience in technical writing, you should check out our Professional Technical Writing or Online Help System Design course. The Professional Technical Writing course provides students with experience in writing concise technical documents. The Online Help System Design course gives students practice in planning and writing online help for software applications.
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