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Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.

Technical Communication, Principles


and Practice, 2/E
Meenakshi Raman, Group Leader,
Humanities and Management, BITS Pilani,
Goa

Sangeeta Sharma, Associate
Professor of the Languages Group at BITS,
Pilani
Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.
Chapter 13

Technical Writing
Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.
Agenda:
Introduction
Audience Analysis
Language
Elements of Style
Techniques for good technical writing
Referencing and Styling
Oxford University Press 2011. All rights reserved.
Introduction

Technical writing : subset of formal
communication that requires in-depth technical
knowledge.

Presents highly technical information to the
audiences in a very comprehensible form
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Importance
To present information comprehensively, in
appropriate format
To organize details with conciseness and
appropriateness
To use Jargons sparingly and after an audience
analysis
To showcase the industry and organization's
achievements in the desired light
To accurately record the activities of an
organization
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Characteristics:
Four Qualities-

Clarity
Accuracy
Correctness
Descriptiveness
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Audience Analysis
The parameters for analyzing the audience-

Demographics

Identification with the Readers


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Language
The choice of words reflect clarity of thoughts.
In technical writing language should be used
for :
Appropriateness
Avoiding slang
Acceptability
Conciseness and flow
Editing phrases
Avoiding euphemisms
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Appropriateness:-
Using suitable level of language formality
-Avoiding deceitful language and euphemisms -
Avoiding slang:-
-Using apt idiomatic expressions
- Using group-specific jargon
- Avoiding biased/ stereotypical language
Acceptability
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Contd
Conciseness and flow
Guidelines for writing concise text:
- Remove redundancy
- Reduce clauses to phrases and phrases to
single words
- Avoid using words such as really, very,
extremely, etc. when they are not necessary
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Conti
Edit out phrases
Avoid euphemisms

Steps to achieve flow in writing:
-Make the sentence relationship apparent
-Use cohesive devices t join the sentence
-Interlink the sentences with proper ideas
- Arrange the sentences in logical order
-develop the thought consistency
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Bias-free writing:

Technical writing should be non discriminatory
in all aspects:
Gender bias
Age bias
Disability bias
Racial and ethnic bias

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Tips for plain writing:
Avoid abstract words
Avoid noun clustering
Prefer short sentence
Avoid redundant words
Use active voice and verbs
Use positive language
Remove clichs and jargons
Use subjects, verbs and object in the order
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Elements of Style
Features of style:

Clarity of thoughts
Identify the audience
Economy of words
Spelling
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Techniques for good Technical writing
Overcoming Writers Block
Measures help to prevent a writers block -
Think positive
Write for your pleasure
Overcome Criticism
Change your place of work
Do not sit at the writing table very long
Take short breaks in between
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Contd...
Avoid distraction that encroaches a lot time
Wear different colored apparels
A beverage may help refresh yourself
Read some other materials not relating to your
writing
Meet the deadlines, but do not be harsh on
yourself
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Contd
Try to inject humor in to difficult situations
Concentrate while working
Avoid excessive stress

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Adding Emphasis in writing
Accentuating the Positives
Prioritizing for Effective Writing
Avoiding Plagiarism

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