Technical Writing: Meaning, Features, Purposes, Uses

Writing is the representation of a language with written symbols and also used as a medium of human communication. It helps one to share one’s thoughts and ideas with others.

However, there are various types of writing. Technical writing is one of them. In this article, I am going to elaborate on what is technical writing. Besides, I will discuss the features and purposes of technical writing.

What is Technical Writing 

Technical writing is a kind of informative writing which is basically written for a specific purpose. In other words, technical writing can be defined as the practice of creating primarily text-based instructional or informational documents for users. Actually, it is a type of writing where the author is writing about a particular subject that requires direction, instruction, or explanation.

Technical writing is broadly divided into many categories. However, there are mainly four major categories of documents in technical writing. Such as:-

1. Reports and communications in day-to-day business
2. Technical papers, magazine articles, books, and theses for purposes of education, teaching, and the sharing of information and knowledge
3. Patents
4. Operational manuals, instructions, or procedures

Features of Technical Writing

Obviously, all the writings are not technical writing. Technical writing has some particular features which separate it from the others types of writing. The main features of technical writing are briefly described below.

1. Clarity
   Technical writing describes the necessary information very clearly. This type of writing doesn’t create any sort of confusion for the reader.
2. Readability
   Technical writing is easily legible to the reader. The content of technical writing must be easily understandable. A technical writer should avoid those words which are not so common and understandable to all class of readers.
3. Comprehensiveness
   Technical writing should include all the necessary information about the topics. It includes a clear description of any process or method. Besides, it also includes results, conclusions. and recommendations.
4. Conciseness
   Technical writing is a kind of writing which goal is to assist a person by providing valuable information. But it shouldn’t be a longer document. Because a longer document often fails to keep the interest of the reader and as a result, the object of assisting someone won’t be fulfilled. So, it should be concise. Something irrelevant shouldn’t be included in technical writing. However, technical writing must be long enough so that it includes all the necessary information.
5. Problem-Solving Focus
   Technical writing is basically written for solving problems. One will read technical writing to learn how to perform certain tasks or gain valuable information. So, the solution should be given in a legible way.

However, there are still so many features of technical writing. For example, it has a specific purpose/object, a particular style, a particular format, etc.

Purposes of Technical Writing

There is no writing but has a goal. And technical writing is not indifferent to it. All types of technical writings have a specific purpose. Generally, the main purpose of technical writing is to give complex information to the readers in a legible way so that they can understand and apply it, even if they don’t have prior knowledge of the topic. However, technical writing will:

• Help a person by providing necessary information
• Elaborate how a process works, how to use the product, and how to get benefitted from it, etc.

There are many purposes of technical writing. Two are listed below.

1. To inform
   The first and foremost purpose of technical writing is to inform valuable and authentic information to the readers. It provides the information in a legible way so that the readers can easily understand the theme of the writing.
   Actually, a technical writer collects all the necessary information and delivers the content. But, it is not about only information. A technical writer delivers the content in a legible way which will definitely help the readers. Basically, it gives the information in the form of instruction and description.
2. To persuade
   Technical writing is a kind of audience-centered writing. It convinces the readers by providing valuable and necessary information. It includes all possible ways how a task can be done. Therefore, it highly influences the reader to make his decision and it is the reason why often a technical writer gives suggestions, proposals, recommendations, etc. in his technical writing.

Uses of Technical Writing

Already I have discussed the features and purposes of technical writing. So now, one can easily understand where to use this type of writing. Besides, technical writing is widely used in the various fields of writing. It is found almost everywhere. However, some of them are listed below.

1. User Manual
   Often we find a user manual with a product we buy. This user manual is a good example of technical writing. Here, a technical writer clearly describes how to use the product properly. One will able to use the product easily and properly by reading the user manual.
2. Lab Report
   Another example of technical writing is lab reports. Lab reports are written based on the works which are done in the lab. It explains the occurrences in the lab, especially how the task is done. One will able to gain information and can perform the task properly in the lab by reading the lab report.
3. Technical Paper
   The technical paper is a kind of technical writing. It is not like a lab report or English paper. It is written on a particular topic in a particular style.
   

To sum all the information, it can be said that technical writing is a kind of writing which object is to enable the readers to understand a highly complex process or concept clearly and easily.