Technical English

EG 3202 SH
Total: 3 hour /week Year: III Lecture: 3 hours/week
Semester: I Tutorial: hours/week
Practical: hours/week Lab: hours/week
Course Description:
This course is designed to meet the requirement of Diploma Level studies under
CTVT programme.
Course Objectives:
After completing this course the students will be able to
1. understand read, write, listen English well
2. present technical writing in their own way
3. get acquaintance with some of the required words, Antonyms and synonyms
Course Contents:
Unit 1. Reading Passage: [10]
1.1 Predicting Content
1.2 Skim
1.3 Summary
1.4 Note making
Unit 2. Writing: [15]
2.1 paragraph writing
2.2 Letter writing
• Letter to the editor
• Leave letter
2.3 Writing simple technical reports
Unit 3. Listening: [8]
3.1 Synonyms and antonyms
3.2 Word formation
3.3 Fill in the blanks
3.4 American English/British English
Unit 4. Focus on language: [6]
4.1 Prepositions
4.2 Phrasal verbs
4.3 Note making
4.4 Cause and effect
4.5 purpose and function
Unit 5. Speaking: [6]
5.1 Different speech functions
5.2 Introducing a guest
5.3 Vote of thanks

References books:
1. English for technical communication volume 1 & 2 combined edition
by K.R Lakshminarayanan
2. SciTech publications (India) Pvt. Ltd Chennai & Hyderabad
3. Communication skills for engineers and professional by Prajapati
Prasad 5th revised edition & published by Enlarged edition S.K. Kataria
and Son’s Delhi.
ANY QUERIES ???
 Answer of passage
a. How is vocational training serving people ?
Ans. Vocational training is serving people by preparing a person to be fit
in employment market and the skills can easily have employment and or
self employment.
b. What is CTEVT doing to expand the skill development
programs?
Ans. CTEVT is doing to expand the skill development programs by skill
training programs and then getting access of poor people
c. Who should be included in skill training programs?
Good inclusion of women, poor, dalit, and disadvantaged group in skill
training programs.
Information technology means the study or use of electronic equipment, especially computers, for storing, analyzing and distributing
information of all kinds.
Information technology is the need of the hour and its significance will increase all the more in future. It has made our access to
knowledge easier. It has become part and parcel of the modern world. In Pakistan, information technology was introduced on a
limited scale, but soon it became the need of everybody. Now almost every literate person, student, scholar, businessman, doctor and
government official is enjoying the benefits of information technology.
“Information technology and businesss are become inextricably interwoven. I don’t think anybody can talk
meaningfully about one without talking about the other”. (Bill Gates)
Today’s world is changing fast and shaping a new. Old trends are giving way to the new ones. Information technology has brought a
revolution in the world. Mysteries are being resolved and puzzles are being solved with the help of information technology. People are
becoming more and more aware of the world they live in. There is more enlightenment for people now than it was in the past.
Information technology is now the order of the day. Latest techniques are being applied to get the maximum benefits from till. Now it
is in the approach of all and sundry in Pakistan. We have realized that if we want to keep pace with the fast-changing world,
information technology is the right area for us to progress. Now information about anything is within our reach. It has opened up a
new world to us.
“Information technology is at the core of how you do your business and how your business model itself evolves”.
(Satya Nadella)
It’s pretty incredible to look back 30 years when Microsoft was starting and realize how work has been transformed. We’re finally
getting close to what I call the digital work style.
The Internet has increased new opportunities for government, business, and education. Government use internet for internal
communication and the distribution of information. Business offer goods and services to customers. Many people use internet for
shopping, paying, bills and online banking. Educational institutions use the Internet for research purposes. They also deliver courses
to students in remote areas.
Apart from its negative uses, we can safely say that the future of information technology is very bright in Pakistan. It is doing
wonders to solve the problems like disease, poverty, backwardness and lawlessness. It will help our students to know about what has
been unknown for a long time. It will improve our image in the community of the word. It will show the world that we are not a
backward nation and we rightly deserve to be called a moderate and progressive nation.
4. Change the following words into verb
form:
inclusive............ include
development................. develop
technology.............technologize
education...............educate
application................apply
employment...............employ
Write a short note on the anniversary of your college.
Annual Day Celebration for School and College Students
The college functions are part and parcel of college co-curricular activities. They are celebrated
with a lot of pomp and grandeur. Our college holds many functions every year. These functions
provide us with a sort of diversion from our study and fill us with cheers. Our Annual Day
Celebration is one of these functions. It is very important for students and teachers.
Preparation for it:
The Annual Day function of our college was celebrated in December this year. Our College Union
organised it. A few days before this function, our college building was painted with beautiful
colours. Thus shutters and grills were polished well. The office bearers of the College Union were
quite busy supervising all the work. They invited the Minister of Higher Education of Odisha to
be the Chief Guest and the Vice Chancellor of Utkal University to be the Chief Speaker. The
President and the Secretary of the Students Union had approached these guests long before the
function and obtained their kind consent. The invitation cards were printed. They were sent to
the parents and the famous persons of the locality. The function was schèduled to begin at 5
p.m.
Arrangements:
The long-awaited day dawned. The college auditorium was beautifully decorated
with lights. Chairs and tables were placed on the dais for the revered guests on
this occasion. The Adviser of the Students' Union was busy supervising
everything. The office bearers of the Union looked to every arrangement as per
the schedule. The whole college building was decorated with coloured lights. The
mikes were fitted on the dais. The invitees and the parents arrived at college
much earlier than the scheduled time. They were ushered in by the student
leaders to the auditorium. There were student volunteers to look for their every
comfort. The Chief Guest and the Chief Speaker me in time. They were given a
hearty welcome by the Union leaders, the Principal and the staff. They were led
to the auditorium and offered seats in the front row. Now the Adviser of the
College Union Dr, Samal went to the dais, and invited the Chief Guest, the Chief
Speaker and the Principal to come over to the dais and occupy their respective
seats, He also invited the President of the College Union to preside over the
After all these formalities, the function of the evening began. One of the office bearers of the Union started introducing the persons on the dais
one by one. Then the Secretary of the College Union read out the Annual Report. In his brief report, he tried to draw the attention of the
honourable Chief Guest to the different problems in college and requested him for the immediate solution. The Chief Speaker, in his address to
the audience, told them, in a nutshell, the degradation of the politicians and the problems our country is going to face in future. He urged all of
them to be aware of such things.

Distribution of Prizes:
The Chief Guest of the evening gave away prizes to the students for their merit in the debate, elocution, quiz, acting, writing essays, poems,
stories and so on. He promised to the students that he would see to their problems immediately. He thanked the Principal, the staff and the
office bearers of the College Union for the hospitality and honour they have shown to him. He congratulated the prize-winners for their talents
and showed his sympathy for other students who failed to win any prizes this time. With a word of thanks, he sank into his seat.
Now came the President's brief remark suited to the occasion. At the close of the meeting, the Principal, on behalf of the staff and the students,
extended heartfelt thanks to the Chief Guest, the Chier Speaker and the audience of the evening function. Now the distinguished guests sat in
the audience to witness the cultural show arranged by the students. The show was a grand success Everybody in the audience enjoyed it. The
Chief Guest of the evening gave away prizes to the students for their merit in the debate, elocution, quiz, acting, writing essays, poems, stories
and so on. He promised to the students that he would see to their problems immediately. He thanked the Principal, the staff and the office
bearers of the College Union for the hospitality and honour they have shown to him. He congratulated the prize-winners for their talents and
showed his sympathy for other students who failed to win any prizes this time. With a word of thanks, he sank into his seat.
Conclusion:
Now came the President's brief remark suited to the occasion. At the close of the meeting, the Principal, on behalf of the staff and the students,
extended heartfelt thanks to the Chief Guest, the Chier Speaker and the audience of the evening function. Now the distinguished guests sat in
the audience to witness the cultural show arranged by the students. The show was a grand success Everybody in the audience enjoyed it.
6. Write a dialogue between a mobile showroom to buy a mobile phone set. Now, write a dialogue between
yourself and the shopkeeper.
Shopkeeper: Welcome, sir! How can I help you?
Customer: I’d like to buy a good mobile phone set. Do you have any new model?
Shopkeeper: Here are some models on the display. These are the latest designs and new arrivals.
Customer: Okay. Show me those black ones.
Shopkeeper: These are here, sir.
Customer: How much is this one?
Shopkeeper: It's six thousand taka only, sir.
Customer: I think it’s too much!
Shopkeeper: No Sir. It’s a fixed price. You may compare it at other shops.
Customer: Has it any warranty?
Shopkeeper: Of course. It has the one-year limited warranty.
Customer: Well, does the set have all the multimedia features?
Shopkeeper: Certainly, sir. Please look here, this one side of the box.
Customer: Ok, I think it’s not bad. Pack it up, please.
Shopkeeper: You may take it without any worry. Even if any problem, please contact us. Here is our visiting card.
Customer: All right. Here is your money.
Shopkeeper: Thank you, sir.
Customer: You are most welcome.
7. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions: 5
a. We have holiday.........................Saturday.
b. Did you come ..................bus or ..........Foot?
c. He was born....................1945.
d. I have been watching TV ..............3 hours.
 Tips for Introducing a Guest Speaker

If you’re slated to introduce the guest speaker you should make a point to introduce
yourself to them first thing in the morning to ensure you have the proper
pronunciation of their name and tell them that you’ll be introducing them. If you wish
you can join the speaker at the head table to give you an opportunity to get to know
them a little better. Never try to give a speech of introduction strictly from memory,
always make notes.

The introducer’s job is to

1. Remind the audience why the topic is important to them

2. Establish the speaker’s qualifications to speak on the topic
3. Get the presentation off on a high note by establishing an up-beat tone
4. Make the speaker feel especially welcome
All of this can be accomplished in no more than a couple of minutes.

Most introducers think their job is either to entertain the audience by being funny, or to make a speech
of their own. Nothing could be further from the truth. The audience didn’t come to hear the introducer;
they came to hear the featured speaker.

Here is an example of an appropriate and effective speech of introduction:

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It’s a great pleasure for me to introduce our speaker today, who is
going to talk to us about the ten most common personal financial planning mistakes. This is a subject in
which we should all be deeply interested because it’s by avoiding financial mistakes that we can best
ensure our financial futures. Our speaker, although having spent almost his entire career advising people
on their finances in places like New York, Los Angeles and Toronto, grew up about thirty miles from
where we are right now. He is an award-winning professional accountant who has specialized in personal
finances and taxation for over twenty years, and has guided the financial affairs of some of this country’s
best-known athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs and executives. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in
welcoming home, Steve Robbins!”
When you arrive at the lectern to perform the actual introduction, remember these ten rules.

1. Stick to meeting the four objectives of a speech of introduction; avoid the temptation to make
your own speech, either on the topic or anything else
2. Never try to introduce a speaker from memory; have good notes
3. Never tell a joke. There are no circumstances that justify telling a joke during a speech of
introduction
4. Keep the introduction as short as possible
5. Be up-beat and enthusiastic
6. Avoid clichés such as “a person who needs no introduction” and “without further ado”
7. Look at the audience, not at the speaker, during the introduction; turn toward the speaker only at
the very end of the introduction
8. Start the applause
9. Wait at the lectern and greet the speaker with a hearty handshake
10. Go sit down

Remember, when introducing or thanking a speaker, you are not the star.

Source: Lyman MacInnis,

https://lymanmacinnis.squarespace.com/journal/2010/1/17/introducing-and-thanking-
speakers.html
vote of thanks
Word forms: plural votes of thanksCOUNTABLE NOUN [usually singular]A vote of thanks is an official speech in which the
speaker formally thanks a person for doing something.
I would like to propose a vote of thanks to our host. [+ to]

NOUNan official speech in which the speaker formally thanks a person for doing something
I would like to propose a vote of thanks to our host.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Examples of 'vote of thanks' in a sentencevote of thanks
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the
opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.We welcome feedback: report an example
sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
He sent a silent vote of thanks to his father for considering his needs.

Vote of thanks examples and how to write a brief formal expression of

thanks at a special occasion proposed as a motion at a conference,
ceremony or meeting talking to a committee chairman, or this could serve
as content for wedding planner courses:
• OPENING STATEMENT
• Honorable [name], Respected
[name], Mr Chairman, our most
valued invited guests, ladies and
gentlemen! It’s my privilege to have
been asked to propose a vote of
thanks on this occasion.
I, on behalf of [name of the organization of the event], and
the entire [other supporting/sponsoring organization,
team, crew, even special guests in the audience if you
like] let me call it fraternity of [field of interest] here
together, and on my own behalf extend a very hearty vote
of thanks to all speakers for gracing your important work
and sharing with us your findings and opinions today!
Further, we are greatful to [speaker], for demonstrating her/his [speech
topic]. [Refer and respond to …]
I may like to express our sincere thanks to [name], for giving an excellent
coverage to [her or his speech idea]. [Refer …].
I also wish to express my gratitude to [name], for providing
encouragement at [speech topics]. [Refer].
I am also very grateful to [name] for her / his analysis of [point that struck
you most].
And, we also would like to acknowledge our gratitude to [name], for
exposing her/his theory of [speech topic].
THANK THE ORGANIZATION VOTE OF THANKS EXAMPLES
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to place on record
our hearty thanks to [name], [function] for the perfect logistic
support and guidance she/he has extended to all of us at
[occasion].
I also extend my thanks to [name], [function] and also to [name],
[function] for their enormous cooperation in the organization of
this event.
Speech functions
Functions of speech are different ways of communicating. The
differences among the speech functions have to do with the
intention of the communication. Different intention or goal leads to
the use of a different function of speech. There are many different
functions if speech but we will look at the six that are listed below.
•Referential
•Directive
•Expressive
•Phatic
•Poetic
•Metalinguistic
Referential
Referential speech provides information. For example, a person might share the time with someone (“It’s five o’clock” ).
Referential speech can often provide information to a question (“what time is it?”).

Directive
Directives or commands that try to get someone to do something. Examples include “turn left” or “sit down”. The context of
a directive is one in which something needs or should be done. As such, one person tries to make one or more other persons
do something. Even children say directives towards their parents (“give me the ball”).

Expressive
Expressive speech shares a person’s feelings. An example would be “I feel happy today!”. Expressive communication can at
times provide clear evidence of how someone is doing.

Phatic
Phatic speech is closely related to expressive speech. However, the main difference is that phatic speech is focused on the
well-being of others while expressive speech focuses on the feelings of the person speaking.

An example of phatic speech is saying “how are you?”. This is clearly a question but it is focusing on how the person is doing.
Another phrase might be “I hope you get well soon.” Again the focus on is on the welfare of someone else.
Poetic
Poetic speech is speech that is highly aesthetic. Songs and poetry are examples of
language that is poetic in nature. An example would be the famous nursery rhyme
“Roses are red, violets are blue…..). Poetic speech often has a powerful emotional effect
as well.
Metalinguistic
Metalinguistic speech is communication about language. For example, this entire
blog post would be considered by many to be metalinguistic because I a talking about
language and not really using language as described in the other functions of speech.
Exceptions
There are many more categories than the ones presented. In addition, the categories
presented are not mutually exclusive. Many phrases can be correctly classified into
many different categories. For example, if someone says “I love you” you could argue
that it’s expressive, poetic, and or even phatic. What is missing is the context in which
such a statement is made.
Conclusion
The ways in which we communicated have been briefly explained here. Understanding how people communicate will
help others to better understand those around us and improve our style of communicating.
 Expressing Purpose
Purpose with to, in order to and so as to
Use to , so as to, and in order to to express purpose in the affirmative
form.
Examples:
•He is looking for a part time job to save some pocket money.
•She wakes up early in order to be on time to work.
•They visited him so as to offer their condolences for the death of his wife.
Use so as not to and in order not to to express purpose in the negative
form.
Examples:
•They woke up early in order not to be late.
•She exercises regularly so as not to get fat.
•He helped the new policewoman so as not to fail in her first mission.
Purpose with so that
You can also express purpose with so that. In this case
you generally need to use a modal.
Examples:
•He turned down the music so that he wouldn't disturb
the neighbors.
•He got a visa so that he can travel to the USA.
•He decided to stay in England for a while so that he
could practice his English.
Purpose with for
Purpose can be also expressed by using for. For may be
followed by either a noun or a verb + ing.
Examples:
•I stopped there for a chat.
•This mop is for cleaning the floor.
Basic English Grammar functions
In our final series of articles to learn English online, today we will be learning the basic functions of English
grammar. English grammar functions are defined as “Grammatical function is the syntactic role played by a
word or phrase in the context of a particular clause or sentence. Sometimes called simply function. In English,
grammatical function is primarily determined by a word's position in a sentence, not by inflection (or word
endings)”
In simple words, English grammar functions are items of a language with respect to their contextual meaning.
Hence the best way to learn these is by way of conversational style of English learning. Conversing with online
spoken English tutors and trying different English grammar functions in contextual sentences will be a better
learning exercise provided you first know the basics of these in terms of definitions, rules etc.
You will be able to practice these in your conversation training in online English-speaking courses. But
most online English communication courses may not necessarily teach you the basics of English grammar
functions since this is the groundwork that students are expected to learn on their own.
So today, let’s cover the 9 basic English grammar functions with examples for your simple understanding.
Going through this article in detail wil help you learn English grammar.
1) Noun
Noun is a name or identity word to describe an object or person. Most of the time, it is the center of the
sentence. We identify the object or a person by the name given, and that is a noun. The name or title of any
living or non-living thing is a noun.
Words- dog, tree, temple, sun, ram, daughter, doctor
Example –
This is a cat.
A kid is sitting on the table.
2) Verb
What a living or non-living thing is doing or performing is termed as a verb. The act, the performance, and an
action come under the category of verb. It is further divided into three categories.
Main verb - Describes an action/activity or work.
Words - get, come cut, tell, meet, like.
Examples –
I like apple.
I will tell my mother.
I can eat chicken.
Auxiliary verb – This is primarily used for identifying the time or tense of the sentence when it has taken
place. Whether it is past, present or future time.
Words – is, am, was, were, has, have, do, did
Examples –
I am walking in the park.
I was sleeping at my home.
I have not seen him before.
Modal verb – This is importantly used for expressing – ability, possibility, possession, and obligation.
Words – can, could, will, would, should, may, might
Examples –
I can write in english.
You should come tomo.
They will see next sunday.
3) Adverb
It helps in describing a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It tells us about the degree of
happening as how long, when, or where it is done. Most of the adverbs are found by adding ‘ly’ in
the adjective. It tells about the value, volume, degree of the verb, adjective, and other adverb.
Words - really, silently, truly, nicely, badly
Examples –
My sister eats quickly.
My brother runs very fast.
He really speaks well.
4) Adjective
An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. It tells about the looks, shape, appearance, kind, and
form of a noun or pronoun. It helps in recognizing the description of nouns or pronouns. With the
help of adjectives, we can know the structure and face value of the noun. It helps in identifying
the noun and pronoun.
Words - small, little, large, big, well.
Examples –
I have three pencils.
He like big bags.
I have big tv at home.
5) Pronoun
It takes the place of nouns. Instead of mentioning the noun, again and again, you should use the
pronoun form of it. There is different category of pronouns –
Personal pronoun - Words - i, you, he, she, it
Possessive pronoun –Words – my, mine, your, you
Reflexive pronoun –Words – myself, themselves, herself
Indefinite pronoun –Words - sombody, anyone, everthing, somewhere
Examples –
She is coming to home today.
I will write myself.
This phone is mine.
6) Preposition
It links a noun to an object or another noun. It is needed to connect the object in a sentence. If
there is an object, then we need it to connect with the help of a proposition. If there is an object,
then there will be a preposition to connect the subject in the sentence.
Words - at, in, of, on, after, under
Examples –
She is sitting on her seat.
He is waiting at the bus stand.
They kept the bag under the tree.
7) Conjunction
It helps in joining two clauses or sentences. When there is additional information to be shared, then we need a
conjunction to connect or join both. It helps in connecting and giving more information in one sentence itself.
Words - but, and, while, because, before
Examples –
I am not coming because i am not well.
I need some bread but without butter.
They had seen it before coming to Delhi.
8) Exclamation
They help is identifying the emotions and tone of the written sentence. When someone is performing an act, it is possible
to figure out the mood like excitement, shock, admiration etc, but in written, it is not possible, so exclamation marks give
real picture to the writing. We could connect or understand the emotion or message behind the written matter.
Words - oh! Wow! Hi!
Examples –
Oh my god! What are you saying?
Stop shouting!
9) Determiners
They help is identifying the noun and is followed by a noun always. It describes a noun, and this is always needed at the
time of using a noun in a sentence. We cannot use a noun without a determiner.
1.Articles – a, an, the
2.Demonstratives – this, that, these, those
3.Quantifiers -a bit, all, any, both, many, some, much
4.Distributives – each, all, half, every, either, both
5.Possessives – our, my, your, his, her, its, their
Examples –
That bag is mine.
I need some water to wash my hair.
What is Note Making in English Grammar?
Note making is a process of creating a record of important details from sources such
as passages, paragraphs etc. The source can also be written documents or oral
communication. Note making means recording the essence of information that is
crucial.
How to Start Note Making?
Give a Quick Read
One needs to understand the importance of reading before commencing the note
making task. It is important to give a quick look over the passage to get a sense of the
information, its tone, ideological inclination, etc. Moreover, it helps you in knowing the
main idea of the passage as well as the author’s aim of writing. However, as this is
intended to develop a preliminary understanding of the passage, you must read at one
stroke and leave the critical or knotty sections for when you begin your intensive
reading. This should not take more than 3-5 minutes.
Intensive Read
After you are done with your quick reading session, you can now start reading attentively and carefully. As you
have already gone through the passage once and are attuned to its main idea, reading the passage carefully now
assists you in developing a clear grasp of the facts, opinions, arguments, and counter-arguments mentioned by
the author.
•Furthermore, many passages contain a huge amount of information which you have put into categories of
relevant, somewhat relevant or irrelevant. Doing this, in turn, will help you in better note making and preparation.
•You must also remember that there may be sections or opinions that you may not agree with. You should not let
any such information have an impact on the notes you prepare in any way or manner. During this phase, skipping
any sentence or phrase is not advisable even if you feel it is not pertinent.
Word Limit
Typically, for note making questions, the word limit you must adhere to is 50-100 words. However, as per specific question
patterns, the permitted word limit may change.
Note Making Format
Note making is an art. Be it for article writing, jotting down ideas for an essay on environment, story writing, or for competitive
exams, you need to have an outline so as to avoid missing any important detail. Here is a rough format you can follow to solve
note making questions for exams:
•Heading/Title– This is the starting section of your note which must convey the central idea of the passage. Various sub-
headings and points hereon elaborate on this heading. It must be short, clear and crisp.
•Subheadings, Points, and Sub-points– Subheadings are fundamental components of a passage which further contain
important information that needs to be delineated into points and subpoints.
•Abbreviations and Symbols– In order to shorten long words, it is common and permitted to use abbreviations while note
making. However, make use of abbreviative forms judiciously and remember to provide a key at the end of your note, listing all
the full forms. Common symbols like ‘&, @,#, %, etc are also permitted.
 Prepositions: Definition and Examples
•Prepositions indicate relationships between other words in a sentence.
•Many prepositions tell you where something is or when something happened.
•Most prepositions have several definitions, so the meaning changes quite a bit in different contexts.
•Ending a sentence with a preposition is not a grammatical error.

What is a preposition?
“Vampires! Zombies! Werewolves!”
“Where?!”
“Behind you!”
Thank goodness for prepositions. Imagine not knowing where the danger lay….
Prepositions tell us where or when something is in relation to something else. When
monsters are approaching, it’s good to have these special words to tell us where those
monsters are. Are they behind us or in front of us? Will they be arriving in three seconds
or at midnight?
Prepositions often tell us where one noun is in relation to another (e.g., The coffee is on the
table beside you). But they can also indicate more abstract ideas, such as purpose or contrast
(e.g., We went for a walk despite the rain).
Types of prepositions
Prepositions indicate direction, time, location, and spatial relationships, as well as other
abstract types of relationships.
Direction: Look to the left and you’ll see our destination.
Time: We’ve been working since this morning.
Location: We saw a movie at the theater.
Space: The dog hid under the table.
Preposition examples
Unfortunately, there’s no reliable formula for determining which preposition to use with a particular combination of words.
The best way to learn which prepositions go with which words is to read as much high-quality writing as you can and pay
attention to which combinations sound right. Here are a few examples of the most common prepositions used in sentences.
I should rewrite the introduction of my essay.
Sam left his jacket in the car.
Did you send that letter to your mother?
We’re cooking for ten guests tonight.
Dan ate lunch with his boss.
You can also use tools like Google Ngrams to see which prepositions most commonly occur with particular words—but
remember, this tool can’t explain the difference in meaning between different prepositional phrases like “pay for” (to
purchase) and “pay off” (to bribe). For that, you may want to refer to a list of prepositions that includes the meanings of
common combinations.
 Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are two or more words that together act as a completely new word, with a meaning separate from the
original words. For example, pick up means to “grab” or “lift,” very different from the definitions of pick and up alone.
Popular in spoken English, phrasal verbs can be quite confusing because their definitions aren’t always easy to guess—and
there are thousands of them. In fact, many phrasal verbs are distinct variations on the same base verb, which can add to
the confusion.

For multilingual speakers, in particular, phrasal verbs are one of the most difficult topics in learning English. To help simplify
this complicated issue, what follows is our guide to understanding English phrasal verbs, including a list of the most
common ones.
common phrasal verbs (with meanings and examples)
back [x] up
support or defend someone
When the class was making fun of me, only the teacher backed
me up.
break down
stop working, especially when referring to machines
The ice cream machine at McDonald’s is always breaking
down.
call around
contact multiple people
Roy called around to find a nearby mechanic.
calm down
relax after an energetic or irritated state
I need a few minutes to calm down after that match.
call [x] off
cancel
We called the party off. / We called off the party.
check [x] out
verify a person or thing (can sometimes be flirtatious when used in reference to a person)
I’ll check the contract out. / I’ll check out the contract.
clean up
be extremely successful in an endeavor, such as business, sports, or gambling
Our hockey team cleaned up at the tournament and went home undefeated.
stop questionable behavior, such as consuming drugs or alcohol
Her boss said she had to either clean up or find a new job.
clean [x] up
clean a general area
John cleaned the living room up. / John cleaned up the living room.
cheer [x] up
make someone happy, especially if they were previously sad
Reading always cheers me up on a rainy day.
Definition of Cause and Effect
In the cause and effect relationship, one or more things happen as a result of
something else.
A cause is a catalyst, a motive, or an action that brings about a reaction—or
reactions. A cause instigates an effect.
An effect is a condition, occurrence, or result generated by one or more causes.
Effects are outcomes.
What Does Cause and Effect Mean?
Cause and effect means that things happen because something prompted
them to happen.
A cause is why something happens. An effect is what happened.
For example, you have a picnic planned for Sunday afternoon. However, the
weather becomes stormy and you have to cancel your outdoor plans.
In this situation, the cause is the stormy weather and the effect of that stormy
weather is the picnic cancellation.
 Cause and effects examples
•I ate tons of junk food, so now I feel sick.
•I feel sick because I ate tons of junk food.
These sentences have the same cause and effect presented in a different order. These
sentences share the same meaning and show the same relationship.
In the next five sentences, determine which comes first, the cause or the effect.
•He lied to me, so I ended our relationship.
•Since I was up all night with my sick child, I’m exhausted this morning.
•She never gave up on her writing, and now she’s published a book!
•They could finish the race because they had trained for it so diligently.
•They gave the restaurant a critical review because their food was burnt to a crisp.
In the first three sentences, the cause comes first. In sentences four and five, the effect
comes first.
 Word formation

Grammar > Words, sentences and clauses > Word formation > Word formation
from English Grammar Today
There are four main kinds of word formation: prefixes, suffixes, conversion and
compounds.
Prefixes
We add prefixes before the base or stem of a word.
examples
prefixes
monorail, monolingual
mono- means ‘one’
multipurpose, multicultural
multi- means ‘many’
post-war, postgraduate
post- means ‘after’
unusual, undemocratic
un- means ‘not’ or ‘opposite to’
Suffixes
We add suffixes after the base or stem of a word. The main purpose of a suffix is to show
what class of word it is (e.g. noun or adjective).

examples
suffixes
terrorism, sexism
-ism and -dom are used to form nouns
employer, actor
-er and -or are used to form nouns to describe people who do things
widen, simplify
-en and -ify are used to form verbs
reasonable, unprofitable
-able is used to form adjectives
unhappily, naturally
-ly is a common suffix used to form adverbs
Conversion
Conversion involves the change of a word from one word class to another. For example, the verbs to email and to
microwave are formed from the nouns email and microwave:
Can you text her? (verb from noun text, meaning to send a text-message)
They are always jetting somewhere. (verb from noun jet)
If you’re not careful, some downloads can damage your computer. (noun
from verb download)
Compounding
When we use compounding, we link together two or more bases to create a new
word. Normally, the first item identifies a key feature of the second word. For
example, the two bases back and ache can combine to form the compound
noun backache, and the two bases post and card combine to form the compound
noun postcard.
Compounds are found in all word classes. The most common types of
compounds are: Nouns: car park, rock band
Adjectives: heartbreaking, sugar-free, airsick
Abbreviation
Abbreviation involves shortening a word. We do this in three
main ways: clipping, acronyms and blends.
We use clipping when we shorten or ‘clip’ one or more syllables
from a word. We also commonly clip proper names for people:
ad: advertisement, advert
Word Formation in English | KSE Academy®
Word formation is a very important aspect of most languages, and English is no exception. The term «word
formation» refers to the processes through which new words are created. Given its signi cance in the English
language and in Cambridge English exams, this short article will outline the basic word formation processes.
Let’s go!

Compounding
It means creating a word by adding up two or more different words. Compound words have a new meaning,
which is obviously related to the meanings of the other words. For example:
book + case = bookcase
sign + post = signpost
watch + man = watchman
Not all compound words are written together. Sometimes they can by hyphenated (con guión) or separate, such
as «tra c lights» or «ice-cream». Some, such as «ice-cream» can be written with our without a hyphen.

Derivation: prefixes and suffixes

This process is normally done through su xation or pre xation, that is to say, adding a su x or a pre x. For
instance:
urgent (adjective) + -cy = urgency (noun)
ir- + responsible (adjective) + -y = irresponsibly (adverb)
national (adjective) + -ise = nationalise

Conversion
Conversion happens when a word changes from one word class to another. For instance, the verb to google is
formed from the noun Google; or the noun read (as in a good read) is formed from the verb to read. For example:
I emailed this document to John. (emailed is a verb formed from the noun email)
He was bullied at school as a child. (bullied is a verb formed from the noun bully)

Blending
This involves taking a part of two different words to make a new word, like merging two words based on the
sounds of these words. This is extremely popular in the English language, and it produces hundreds of new
words every year whose meanings is a mixture of the meanings of the original words. In some cases, these are
informal, but there are many that have become a natural part of standard English. Let’s see some examples:
channel + tunnel = chunnel
 motor + hotel = motel
work + alcoholic = workaholic

Abreviation
When we abbreviate a word, we form another word by shortening it or simply by using only part of the word:
Perambulator –> pram
Veterinary –> vet
In general, we can talk about two types of abbreviation: clipping and acronyms.

Clipping
This means literally clipping the word, which means «cutting» the word to make it shorter. This normally makes
the word more informal and/or appealing. Some examples are:
advertisement = ad
hamburger = burger
demonstration = demo
Acronyms
Acronyms, which are a form of abbreviation, are words formed by using only the rst letter(s) of the words. By
creating an acronym, we are reducing the meaning of a whole phrase o sentence to a single word. Let’s see
some popular examples:
laughing out loud = LOL
United Nations = UN
radio detection and ranging = radar

Novel creation
This basically means coming up with a completely new word without any of the processes above. These words
are typically referred to as «neologisms». Some examples are:
puzzle
bash
gimmick
gadget

Creative re-spelling
This involves spelling a word differently in order to make it more practical, attractive, or to ful l some particular
aim, usually commercial. For example:
because –> bcoz
light –> lite
forever –> 4eva
Combat –> Kombat

Loan words
In linguistics, a loan happens when we take a word directly from a foreign language. Some examples of loan
words in English are:
solo
pizza
tapas
negro
carpe diem
 cul de sac
In general, when we loan a word, the spelling doesn’t usually change. However, some other changes may occur,
like creating a plural form which doesn’t exist in the original language. As for pronunciation, we usually
pronounce them with an «English accent», so it varies slightly from the original pronunciation.
As far as Cambridge English exams go, it’s derivation (pre xes & su xes) that concerns us most, as it is present
in two of the parts of the section of Use of English B2 and Use of English C1.

Download this post as a PDF

If you want to download and print this post about types of word formation in English, just click the button below
and download a free PDF document.
 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have the same, or almost the same,
meaning as another word. You can say an “easy task” or a
“simple task” because easy and simple are synonyms. You can
say Hong Kong is a “large city” or a “metropolis”
because city and metropolis are synonyms
Replace the underlined words in the paragraph with appropriate synonyms. Write the new
paragraph on your own sheet of paper.
When most people think of the Renaissance, they might think of artists like Michelangelo,
Raphael, or Leonardo da Vinci, but they often overlook one of the very important figures of
the Renaissance: Filippo Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi was born in Florence, Italy in 1377. He is
considered the very best architect and engineer of the Renaissance.
His impressive accomplishments are a testament to following one’s dreams, persevering in
the face of obstacles, and realizing one’s vision.
The most difficult undertaking of Brunelleschi’s career was the dome of Florence Cathedral,
which took sixteen years to construct. A major blow to the progress of the construction
happened in 1428. Brunelleschi had designed a special ship to carry the one hundred tons of
marble needed for the dome. He felt this would be the most inexpensive way to transport the
marble, but the unthinkable happened. The ship went down to the bottom of the water,
taking all the marble with it to the bottom of the river. Brunelleschi was really sad.
Nevertheless, he did not give up. He held true to his vision of the completed dome. Filippo
Brunelleschi completed construction of the dome of Florence Cathedral in 1446. His influence
on artists and architects alike was felt strongly during his lifetime and can still be felt in this
day and age.
Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have the opposite meaning of a given word. The study of
antonyms will not only help you choose the most appropriate word as you write; it
will also sharpen your overall sense of language

Word Antonym Word Antonym

absence presence frequent seldom
accept refuse harmful harmless
accurate inaccurate horizontal vertical
advantage disadvantage imitation genuine
ancient modern inhabited uninhabited
abundant scarce inferiorsuperior
artificial natural intentional accidental
attractive repulsive justice injustice
borrowlend knowledge ignorance
bravery cowardice landlord tenant
create destroy, demolish likely unlikely
bold timid, meek minority majority
capable incapable miser spendthrift
combine separate obedient disobedient
conceal reveal optimist pessimist
common rare permanent temporary
decrease increase plentiful scarce
definite indefinite private public
despair hope prudent imprudent
discourage encourage qualified unqualified
employer employee satisfactory unsatisfactory
expand contract tame wild
forget remember vacant occupied
A guide to
technical
report writing
 A guide to technical report writing – Contents

Contents
1. What makes a good technical report? 3

2. Objectives 4

2.1 Who are you producing the report for? 4

3. Format 5

3.1 Appendices 5
3.2 Sections and subsections 5
3.3 References 6

4. Writing 7

4.1 Spelling 7
4.2 Punctuation 7
4.3 Sentences 7
4.4 Paragraphs 8
4.5 Formality 8
4.6 Example 8

5. Diagrams 9

5.1 Positioning 9
5.2 Tables 9
5.3 Graphs 9
5.4 Diagram references 9

6. Finishing the report 10

6.1 Summaries 10
6.2 Abstracts 10
6.3 Table of contents 10
6.4 Title page 10
6.5 Appearance 10
6.6 Checking 10

7. Resources 11

02
 A guide to technical report writing – What makes a good technical report?

A Guide to Technical Report Writing was originally written by Joan van

Emden and the late Jennifer Eastel and has been revised by the IET,
with input from Alex Kerr who delivers this course on behalf of the IET.

1. What makes a good

technical report?
A good report is easy to recognise. Its title is precise Keep these rules in mind and you will be more likely
and informative and its format logical to the reader, to attract readers, direct them towards relevant,
with headings to indicate the content of each section. clear information and steer them towards the desired
Diagrams are well-presented and clearly labelled. response.

There are no absolute rules on report production Notice that the first law is repeated because it’s a law
because every report must be adapted to the needs of which shouldn’t be broken. Taking shortcuts to save
its reader. This guide, however, suggests that there are time and money are counterproductive if your reader is
laws of good report writing which should be generally left confused by the report or decides it’s too difficult to
applied (but broken if necessary). work out what you are trying to say.

10 laws of good report writing

1. produce the report for your

reader(s)
2. keep the report as short as possible
3. organise information for the
convenience of the reader
4. include accurate references
5. ensure your writing is accurate,
concise and straightforward
6. include diagrams with the right
labels in the right place for your
reader
7. make sure your summary gives the
whole picture in brief
8. check the report for technical
errors, typing errors and
inconsistency
9. consider design as well as content
10. produce the report for your
reader(s)

03
 A guide to technical report writing – Objectives

2. Objectives
Set the objectives for your report before you start 2.1 Who are you producing the report for?
writing. Note them down and check that you are
keeping to them, even during the last stages of If you want your report to make an impact, you need
production. to consider your reader. Knowing your reader should
determine your approach, the technical content and
Your objectives should identify: style of your writing.

– who you’re producing the report for Ask yourself:

– why you’re producing the report – What does the reader already know about the
subject?
– what information you’re covering
– What do you need to tell the reader?

– Why does a particular reader need this particular

What happens without clear report?
objectives
– What is the desired response from the reader?
If you don’t take time to clarify your
– How can you bridge the gap between what the
objectives, writing the report will be reader knows already and what they need to
more difficult, understanding it even know, in order to produce the desired response?
more so and you may not achieve the
desired response. – What level of formality is appropriate? (e.g. a
short emailed report to a colleague will be less
A report which was meant to cover formal than a report for a managing director of
another company)
the UK, but instead just dealt with
England and Wales resulted in lost Reports are often written for multiple readers, for
opportunities for development and example, technical and financial managers. Writing
sales in Scotland and Northern Ireland. two separate reports would be time-consuming and
risk offending people who are not party to all of the
A report which tried to be both a information. One solution to this problem is strategic
use of appendices (see page 5).
specification of a machine and a report
on the results of using a machine
left readers in confusion, as it didn’t
provide a precise specification or a
satisfactory conclusion.

04
 A guide to technical report writing – Format

3. Format
Once the objectives have been established, start 3.2 Sections and subsections
organising the information available. As you find
material, put it into one of three categories: Divide information and place it under headings that are
as specific as possible. From a visual point of view, this
1. important information that is relevant to the space on the page makes your report easier to read.
objectives Also, readers can identify and refer to sections which
are relevant to their interests.
2. borderline information which might be useful
to some readers or support more important Section headings
material
If you don’t have a template for a report provided by
3. information which may be interesting to you, your company or university, then there are some widely
but is not relevant to the objectives accepted section headings you can use:

Set aside category 3 material to check it later. Material – Title page

in categories 1 and 2 must be kept available and
thought of as probable main text (category 1) and – Acknowledgements
appendix material (category 2).
– Summary
When you’ve identified probable main text, you can
start looking through it to decide on how it could be – Table of Contents
ordered logically.
– Introduction/Terms of Reference/Scope

3.1 Appendices – Procedure

Although appendices are at the end of a report, think – Findings

about them first as they can be one your most useful
tools. Appendices should be used to remove from the – Conclusions
main text all information which is not needed by the
majority of readers. – Recommendations

– References/Bibliography

If the main text is clear of detailed – Appendices

statistics, maps, explanations of
These sections can be adapted or merged together,
technical terms or experimental
depending on what you think would be appropriate for
data, it will be kept as short and as your reader. They form a framework for a report, but you
readable as possible. don’t need to start writing at the beginning. Writers
often find it easier to start with the factual material in
By using appendices, you can also cater the Findings section.
to different types of readers, their
Notation
needs and priorities. Experts may feel
patronised by too much explanation The logical linking of headings is shown by notation,
in the main text and non-experts left usually decimal notation. The system is easy to produce
confused by lack of information – but and follow, and the fact that it is widespread means
appendices can satisfy both parties. that readers are likely to be familiar with it.

An engineer may be frustrated by

technical information interwoven with
details of costing, but both technical
and financial readers will be happy to
find costings in the appendix.

05
 A guide to technical report writing – Format

Headings should match the numbering in importance, 3.3 References

so a main heading should have a major notation (as
shown below): Accurate references improve the credibility of your
document, making your report more convincing. Make a
1. MAIN HEADING note of references as you go along, so you don’t forget
1.1 Lesser Heading where your information came from, as that’s where
1.1.1 Small heading errors can creep in.

8. MAIN HEADING There are various referencing systems and you should
8.4 Lesser Heading use the system preferred by your company or university.
8.4.6 Small Heading If you don’t have guidance on referencing, a couple of
options are shown below.
The heading numbered 1.1.1 should be equal in
importance to heading 8.4.6. Ideally notations should In-text citing
have no more than four numbers, as more subdivisions
are difficult to follow. In the text, references are shown by a number in square
brackets [1] and the full references are listed in order at
Appendices should be distinguished from the main text the end of the report:
by a letter, and if necessary, a decimal notation after the
letter: 1. Van Emden, J. (2005). Writing for Engineers.
3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Appendix B2.4
This is the fourth subsection of the second major 2. Hawley, R. (1996). Leadership challenges in an
section of the second Appendix. engineering environment. Engineering
Management Journal, 6 (5), pp. 217-231

Harvard referencing

In the text, the author’s surname and the date (Hawley,

1996) are included, and at the end of the document, the
details are given in full:

Van Edmen, J and Becker, L. (2017). Writing for

Engineers (Macmillan Study Skills). 4th ed.
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Hawley, R. (1996). Leadership challenges in an

engineering environment. Engineering Management
Journal, 6 (5), pp. 217-231.

For online materials, cite them in the same style as

other bibliographical sources, but indicate it is online
and provide the URL and the date accessed.

The IET, (2019). The Institution of Engineering and

Technology’s official website. [online] Available at
http://www.theiet.org [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].

06
 A guide to technical report writing – Writing

4. Writing

A well-written report is easier to read, 4.2 Punctuation

makes your meaning clear and builds the
Commas
reader’s confidence in what you are saying.
Check your use of punctuation, such as commas, as it
can transform the meaning of sentences. For example:
4.1 Spelling
The engines, which were in perfect running order,
When you’ve completed a section of the report, check had been tested previously. (all engines were in
it for spelling errors. If you’re relying on a spellchecker perfect running order and had been tested)
programme, watch out for the following errors which
may not be picked up: The engines which were in perfect running order had
been tested previously. (only the engines in perfect
– Using the wrong word running order had been tested)
If you use a word which was not intended, a
spellchecker will often accept it. ‘Not’ and ‘now’, Hyphens
for instance, are easily confused.
Do use hyphens if not using them will lead to ambiguous
– Technical words meaning, e.g. ‘a cross-section of staff’ vs ‘a cross
These words need to be checked carefully as a section of staff’. They should also be used to form short
spellchecker programme often has no advice compound adjectives. e.g. three-year plan, two-tonne
on them. vessel.
– New technical words
New technical words or semi-technical words often
start out as two words, then become hyphenated,
4.3 Sentences
before finally becoming accepted as one word. For
Good style involves varying sentence length. A long
example, cyber-security/cybersecurity, e-mail/email.
technical explanation, which mentions somewhere in the
Look to the technical press, such as IET journals, for
middle that maintenance costs can be reduced, risks the
guidance on these words. Where both variants are
important point being lost.
still used, go for one word, as hyphens tend to
clutter up the text.
Short sentences provide a clear, easy-to-read style for
factual information. Where information needs to be
compared with other information, longer sentences can
work better.

07
 A guide to technical report writing – Writing

4.4 Paragraphs 4.6 Example

Paragraphs should unify content, but also be used to Below is an example of writing by a qualified and
make the document more readable. Several paragraphs experienced engineer, followed by our suggestion for
on a page with resulting spaces encourage reading, improvement.
while a long block of text is off-putting.
At present on the XYZ sub-station we have no
facility to supply 12000 amps required for the new
4.5 Formality plant from the existing spare O.C.B.’s, this will
require the removal of some of the old existing oil
Reports are formal documents, but that doesn’t mean circuit breakers and replacing with new vacuum
you have to use overly complex words or grammar. Use circuit breakers (VCBs) since we cannot uprate the
simple words that you’d use in everyday conversation existing VWX equipment which is of course 1937
to get your meaning across, e.g. ‘send’ rather than vintage, the proposal for this would be as follows.
‘dispatch’ and ‘finish’ rather than ‘draw to a conclusion’.
If you choose more complex language, readers could be Revised example:
unnecessarily distracted by it.
On the XYZ sub-station board, we are unable at
Writing in an impersonal style can also make sentences present to meet the demand (1200 amperes per
difficult to read, e.g. ‘It was immediately apparent to the phase) required to operate the new plant using the
writers...’ If your company or university policy permits, existing oil circuit breakers (OCBs). Spares are not
use the more straightforward active voice: ‘I recommend’ available and the old equipment cannot be uprated.
or ‘We recommend’.
We therefore suggest replacing some of the existing
For more information on spelling, grammar and style, see switchgear with new vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs).
our resources on page 11. The proposal is costed below.

1. move ‘at present’ so emphasis is on the sub-

station board

2. replace unnecessarily complex language ‘we have

no facility’ with ‘we are unable to’

3. amps is not a recognised abbreviation for

amperes

4. spell out acronym before using it (OCB)

5. break up text into shorter sentences and

paragraphs for ease of reading

08
 A guide to technical report writing – Diagrams

5. Diagrams
Diagrams — which include tables, graphs, Tips for creating space in your tables
photographs and line drawings — are an
– Put units and powers of ten in column headings
essential part of many technical reports.
They can summarise a lot of information or – Group together similar items, e.g. in annual
clarify a situation or complex details in a way financial breakdown, you could group together
that continuous text can’t. months in quarters (January-March)

– Think about how much detail your reader needs.

Do they need the exact figures or can they be
5.1 Positioning
rounded? Do they need all the data or can some
be omitted/put in an appendix?
Most readers do not like to have their reading
interrupted to search for a related diagram. They are
unlikely to stop reading, turn the page or pages to
look at a diagram and then return to their place in the 5.3 Graphs
text. Instead, they will mentally register the reference,
continue reading and will study the diagram, if at all, Graphs are used to show trends or give accurate
only when the information in the diagram becomes technical information. If graphs are to be compared, use
essential. the same scale for each.

If you want readers to pay attention to your diagrams,

you need to position them in the right place — 5.4 Diagram references
where they are needed. That means positioning a
diagram close to the text that refers to it, or if it is Diagrams of all types must be clearly referenced in the
supplementary information only, in an appendix. text. Use the first number of the section in which the
diagram appears, and then after the decimal point,
the sequential number, e.g. Figure 3.7 is the seventh
5.2 Tables diagram in section three of the report.

Tables can bring together a great deal of information for

the reader when presented effectively. The use of space,
in particular, can make the table easier to read. Checklist for diagrams

– Does it give the reader the

required information?
– Is it easy to use?
– Does it look attractive?

09
 A guide to technical report writing – Finishing the report

6. Finishing the report

6.1 Summaries 6.4 Title page
A summary gives a general picture of the report for As the title page is the first page that the reader will
those who want to be reminded of what they have read see, make sure it includes the relevant details:
or for those who will never read the whole report.
– Title
It makes the report’s ‘answer’, its conclusions and
recommendations immediately available. For this reason, – Author’s name
it’s the section that is read by the majority and the most
senior readers (often the decision makers) who might – Report reference number
not have the time or interest to look into the detail.
– Date
Tips on writing your summary
– Classification (confidential, etc) if appropriate
– Keep it under 250 words for a report of up to 50
pages. You may need to start with too many
words and edit down. 6.5 Appearance
– Give enough background information for your Overcrowded pages, small typeface, headings which
summary to make sense to a reader who hasn’t merge with the text — all these put readers off and may
read the whole report. even prevent them from becoming readers. Think about
good layout, print and plenty of space – readers are
– Comment on major findings and highlight encouraged to tackle even the dullest subject if pages
conclusions of importance. appear clear and easily digestible.

– Use continuous prose — diagrams in summaries

are rare.
6.6 Checking
Give your report a final check, as an error-free document
6.2 Abstracts will strengthen its credibility. Where possible, ask two
people to check your report — a technical expert who
Abstracts are used to bring together the report and can assess the amount of explanation given, the validity
potential readers, attracting readers who might not of data and the logical flow of information, and a non-
necessarily consider the report relevant to them. expert who can check for spelling/grammar errors.

The abstract selects areas of interest covered by the If you’re checking your own work, do it with fresh eyes.
report and may include a list of key words, so that your Leave the report for at least 48 hours after writing it,
report is more discoverable. before you give it that final check. Then it’s ready to go!

6.3 Table of contents

List each chapter or section with its constituent
headings, section and sub-section numbers, as well
as page numbers. This helps the reader to select a
particular sub-section of interest and find it easily, at
the same time as seeing its connection to what comes
before and after it.

10
 A guide to technical report writing – Resources

Resources

Cutts, M. (2013). Oxford Guide to Plain English (Oxford Paperback Reference).

4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Van Edmen, J and Becker, L. (2017). Writing for Engineers (Macmillan Study Skills).
4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

The Guardian and Observer style guide:

www.theguardian.com/info/series/guardian-and-observer-style-guide

11
Our offices
London, UK
T +44 (0)20 7344 8460
E [email protected]

Stevenage, UK
T +44 (0)1438 313311
E [email protected]

Beijing, China
T +86 10 6566 4687
E [email protected]
W theiet.org.cn

Hong Kong
T +852 2521 2140
E [email protected]

Bangalore, India
T +91 80 4089 2222
E [email protected]
W theiet.in

New Jersey, USA

T +1 (732) 321 5575
E [email protected]

@TheIET theiet.org
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is working to engineer a
better world. We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community,
supporting technology innovation to meet the needs of society. The Institution
of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England and Wales
(No. 211014) and Scotland (No. SC038698). Michael Faraday House, Six Hills Way,
Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2AY, United Kingdom.
Paragraph On Computer 100, 150, 200,
250 to 300 Words for Kids, Students and
Children
June 25, 2020 by Veerendra

Paragraph On Computer: The modern and advanced electronic

machine which is used by various types of programmers is called
computers. The computer works when somebody who is operating
the computer, is giving instructions to it. The information is stored in
the computer’s storage, and we can access it easily whenever needed.

You can read more Paragraph Writing about articles, events,

people, sports, technology many more.

Paragraph On Computer- 100 Words For Classes 1, 2, 3

Kids
An electronic device used to store, display, and process data is known
as a computer. The computer has emerged a lot with the passing days
with more modern updates and advancements.

There are three types of computers, which include analog, digital and
hybrid computers. The speed, as well as the accuracy of each
computer, is classified. The computer has several functions other
than processing and storing data. It helps control the machine,
organize the business, sell services and products, and definitely for
academic purposes. The computer has found its way in our daily lives
with its great usefulness.
Paragraph On Computer- 150 Words For Classes 4, 5 Children

A computer is an electronic gadget used to process and store and

show information. In any case, this is an act of excessive
simplification of what a computer as the gadget has developed to play
out a few different capacities that surpass the above depiction.

Computers are commonly grouped into three kinds, dependent on how

they process data. To this end, they have delegated the simple, digital,
and hybrid computers. This characterization decides the speed and
precision of every computer.

A computer can serve a few capacities besides the conspicuous

capacity of storing and preparing information. Some of them are to
control machine and hardware, to arrange business and adventure, to
sell items and services, to direct research for scholarly purposes, and
to many more.

The computer is now a member of our everyday lives. The innovation

has discovered its way into all parts of our lives. Till the end, the
computer will remain valuable in each field.

Paragraph On Computer- 200 Words For Classes 6,7,8 Students

Now it is impossible in our life to imagine without a computer. The

invention of the computer helped many people’s dreams change into
reality. For lots of purposes, the computer can be used like storing
information, programming, and developing software, calculation and
email purposes, and many more.

A computer comprises a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, a CPU, and a

UPS as essential parts. A computer is known for its abundant storage
space.

Human is now mostly dependent on the technology, and the use of

computer can be found in every field, from students for their academic
purposes to office workers for their work.

For improving and learning professional skills, the computer helps

students a lot. In the 21st century, people are seemed to be interested
in more advanced computers with lighter, smaller, and powerful
computers with high speed and accuracy. Not only school and office
work purposes, but also computers can be used to control traffic,
forecasting weather, educational and medical purposes, guidance and
designing of spacecraft, operation purposes, examination purposes,
detection of crime, and the list goes on. With the advanced
necessities and demands of the people, Computer has also developed
with time providing and satisfying us with all the needs.

Paragraph On Computer- 250 to 300 Words For Classes 9, 10, 11, 12 And
Competitive Exams Students
The computer is one of the best creations of man. It is the most
refreshing result of science and innovation that has made our lives so
simpler. Computers are getting ubiquitous as we can find computers
from anywhere, like from homes, schools, universities, workplaces,
research centers to libraries, exhibition halls, and even emergency
clinics.
A computer is a machine that can store enormous measure of
information and can carry out various responsibilities in a lot lesser
time contrasted with people. It gathers contribution from users,
processes it, and conveys the usual outcome as output.

The primary mechanical Computer was made by Charles Babbage.

The significant parts of a computer are – Mouse, Keyboard, Central
Processing Unit (CPU), and the Monitor.

In this day and age, people have gotten so subject to Computers that
it is unimaginable for them to live without it. What makes Computers
so significant is its use, productivity, and pure openness. The
astonishing advantages of computers make it the most required
innovation.

Computers are of incredible use in the field of Education. It assists

instructors with planning introductions for workshops; students think
it’s simple to work on their projects from their homes utilizing a
computer. Every single money related exchange, representative record
keeping, business forms are done through computers. Computers are
utilized while directing clinical methods like X-rays, CT scans, MRI
examine, and so forth. PCs are an aid to the defense office as they
help identify approaching rockets, diagnosing bombs in this way help
in sparing lives.

The computer is a superb endowment of science made by man to

support humanity. Computers are administering the present reality,
and these have certainly changed the lifestyle of individuals and the
status of creating nations.
 Writing Technical Reports
A quick guide to writing technical reports in Engineering.

The main purpose of an Engineering technical report is

to present a solution to a problem in order to prompt
action. Technical reports provide a record of your
developing expertise and are a legal record of your work
and decision making.
 What is a technical report?
Technical reports are a central part of your professional success and are
usually designed to:
•Convince the reader of your position
•Persuade them to act, or
•Inform them of your findings.
They are an opportunity for you to:
•Clearly communicate a solution to a problem
•Recommend action, and
•Aid decision making.
Technical reports are designed for quick and easy communication of
information, and use:
•Sections with numbered headings and subheadings, and
•Figures and diagrams to convey data.
 How do I structure a technical report?

Regardless of the specific purpose of your technical report, the

structure and conventions rarely differ. Check your subject
requirements and expand the sections below to learn more about
each section. Download a Technical Report template here.

•Title page
Technical reports usually require a title page. To know what to
include, follow the conventions required in your subject.
•Title page
•Summary

•Table of contents

•Introduction
•Body
•Figures, tables, equations and formulae
•Conclusion
•Recommendations
1.

2.

•References
•Appendices
Summary
A technical report summary (or abstract) should include a brief
overview of your investigation, outcomes and recommendations. It
must include all the key information your reader needs to make a
decision, without them having to read your full report. Don’t treat
your summary as an introduction; it should act as a stand-alone
document.
Table of contents
Help your reader quickly and easily find what they are looking for by
using informative headings and careful numbering of your sections
and sub-sections. For example:
Introduction
A technical report introduction:
•provides context for the problem being addressed,
•discusses relevant previous research, and
•states your aim or hypothesis.
To help, consider these questions:
•What have you investigated?
•How does your study fit into the current literature?
•What have previous studies found in the area?
•Why is it worth investigating?
•What was the experiment about?
Body
The body of a technical report is structured according to
the needs of your reader and the nature of the project. The
writer decides how to structure it and what to include.
•To help, ask yourself:
•What does the reader need to know first?
•What is the most logical way to develop the story of the
project?
•Tip: look at other technical reports in your discipline to see
what they’ve included and in what order.
Figures, tables, equations and formulae
Technical reports include a mixture of text, tables, figures and
formulae. Consider how you can present the information best for your
reader. Would a table or figure help to convey your ideas more
effectively than a paragraph describing the same data?
•Figures and tables should:
•Be numbered
•Be referred to in-text, e.g. In Table 1…, and
•Include a simple descriptive label - above a table and below a figure.
•Equations and formulae should be:
•Numbered
•Referred to in-text, e.g. See Eq 1 for…
•Centred on the page, and
Conclusion
Your conclusion should mirror your introduction.
•Be sure to:
•Refer to your aims
•Summarise your key findings, and
•State your major outcomes and highlight their significance.
•Recommendations
•If your technical report includes recommendations for action. You could choose to report these as a bullet
point list. When giving an answer to your problem, be sure to include any limitations to your findings.
•Your recommendations can be presented in two ways:
•Action statements
e.g. Type approval should be issued for tunnel ventilation fans.
•Conditional statements
e.g. If fan blades are painted with an anti-corrosion coating system, it is likely that…
e.g. The research has found that the fan hub should be constructed from forged steel and the fan housing
should be constructed from hot dipped galvanised steel, but future research…
References
Acknowledge all the information and ideas you’ve incorporated
from other sources into your paper using a consistent referencing
style. This includes data, tables and figures. Learn more about
specific referencing conventions

Appendices
If you have data that is too detailed or lengthy to include in the
report itself, include it in the appendix. Your reader can then choose
to refer to it if they are interested. Label your appendix with a
number or a letter, a title, and refer to it the text, e.g. For a full list of
construction phases, see Appendix A.
How to Write a Letter to the Editor?
Here are all the elements of the Letter to the Editor format:
•Address of the Sender: This segment includes the address of the person sending the letter addressed to the
Editor. It can be an office or residential address, as the question specifies.
•Date of Letter: The date on which the letter was addressed to the Editor. This data must be accurate as it
serves as a point of reference at many points.
•Designation: The designation of the person receiving the letter. In the case of a Letter to the Editor, this is
generally filled in as “The Editor”.
•Address of the Receiving Editor: This must include the office address of the Editor, as well as the name of the
organization to which he or she belongs.
•Letter Subject: The letter subject must reflect the objective of writing the letter in very few words. It must be
concise, as written in a way as to cover everything the sender deems necessary.
•Salutation: This part reflects the courtesy of an individual, hence is extremely important. The writer should use
words like Madam, Sir, Miss, or a salutation of both sexes in case of information ambiguity.
•Body: The body of a letter is the main point of all its contents. It is generally divided into three sub-sections,
namely- Introduction, Content and Conclusion.
•Introduction: Gives a brief abstract of the content to follow.
Content- Includes the main details and subject matter of the letter.
Conclusion- This part concludes the information to provide a summary and give fluidity to the whole content.
A letter appears better structured if the writer adheres to this sequence of writing.
•Complimentary Conclusion: This part should add a kind reminder for the Editor to take the appropriate action if
any needs to be taken or give an appropriate conclusion to the main content.
•Name of the Sender: The name or signature of the person who addressed the letter is required to add reliability
to the letter and the information provided.
Letter to the Editor Format
Formal letters format do not vary much in general, be it a Letter to the Editor, Principal
or Internship request letter. Here is the format of the Letter to the Editor for Class
8, Class 9, Class 10, Class 11 and Class 12.
Sender’s Address
Date
Receiver’s Designation
Address

Subject: ______________________________________________

Respected Ma’am/ Sir

Body of the Letter

Introduction- Gives a brief abstract of the content to follow.
Content- Includes the main details and subject matter of the letter.
Conclusion- This part concludes the information to provide a summary and give fluidity
to the whole content.
A letter appears better structured if the writer adheres to this sequence of writing.
Yours Sincerely,
Sender’s Name
Sender’s Designation (Optional)
Sender’s Signature
Sample Letter to the Editor
J.P Road
Andheri (West)
Mumbai
23rd January 2022
The Editor
India Today
Mumbai
Subject: Why was India Ranked 139 out of 149 countries in the World Happiness Report?
Respected Editor,
According to the World Happiness Report 2022 released by UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network on
Friday, India stood at the 139th position among 149 countries. These respondents were assessed based on three
indicators: life evaluations, positive emotions, and negative emotions.
What made India rank so low? The following points could be potential factors responsible for lesser happiness
scores among Indian citizens.
Deteriorating Health Facilities
Lower Public Trust
Corruption
Through your reliable and trusted media coverage, I would like to request you to highlight the above-mentioned
concerns for the benefit of the people.
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely
XYZ
Write a letter to the Editor of The Times Newspaper, highlighting increasing technological addiction among the youth.

24D, Block 4
Defence Society
New Delhi
24th June 20xx
The Editor
The Times
New Delhi
Subject: An appeal against rising tech addiction among the youth
Sir,
With great admiration and belief in the columns of your newspaper, I seek to bring to your kind notice the fast-
growing menace of tech addiction and resultant health scares among the youth of our country.
Today, we are able to enjoy some of the most convenient gadgets to have ever existed, which offer far more
information and sources of entertainment than any other. As a result, the upcoming generation has been becoming
increasingly information-heavy. The number of hours an average person spends in gaining new information, whether
wanted or unwanted, is fast increasing, with a screen in front of our eyes showing us new wonders every minute.
And on top of that, the wonders are as per choice and preferences. All this temptation often leads young children to
spend much more time on these gadgets than what’s healthy. And even though we may not realise it instantly, it
levies a huge load of tiredness on our brains and eyes, often leading to inexplicable stress and irritability.
Hence, through the pages of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to appeal to the youth worldwide to maintain a
balance of all spheres of life to fully enjoy it.
Thanking you in anticipation
Yours Sincerely
ABC
Given the recent increase in road accidents and miss happenings, you are concerned about road safety. Write a letter to the editor of a popular magazine to showcase the same.

New Mehrauli Road

Munirka
New Delhi
11th September 2020
The Editor
The Times
New Delhi
Subject: An appeal to raise a concern about reckless driving
Sir/Madam,
With great admiration and belief in the columns of your newspaper, I seek to bring to your kind notice that road
accidents have become an everyday occurrence in our city, as also in cities all over the country.
Reckless driving is a serious issue, which takes away many innocent lives in the country every year. A large number of
accidents are caused by people driving recklessly after being drunk, as also by people who fail to follow traffic rules,
either deliberately or otherwise. I was a witness to one such accident a few weeks ago, where a lady crossing the road
was hit by a car. Although she survived the accident, she was grievously injured. Unfortunately, such episodes happen
every day.
Hence, through the pages of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to appeal to the people of our country to refrain
from engaging in reckless driving and urge them to diligently follow traffic rules. This can help save a lot of innocent
lives.
Thanking you in anticipation!
Yours Sincerely
ABC