What are the different properties of technical writing?
Technical writing should be written for its intended audience. In a manual for professional electricians, the process of wiring a plug would be explained only very briefly, as anyone using the manual would be competent, understanding both tools and safety precautions. In a DIY manual for the home enthusiast, the writer has to be aware that some readers will never have attempted this before, and has to spell out everything in minute detail aided by coloured diagrams. Technical writing should not be embellished with unnecessary literary flourishes. A technical writer is interested in enhancing the reader’s technical skills and vocabulary rather than his literary ones. A lot of technical writing involves explaining how to do things. The writer needs to break the task down into manageable steps, and present them in a well-structured, orderely fashion. He should use the most appropriate style. This may well mean more diagrams than words. Technical writing will often include features such as
