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Elements of Style and Technical Writing

This document discusses the elements of style and technical writing. It begins with an introduction to technical writing, noting that it is intended to deliver factual information to an audience for a specific purpose. It then discusses the history and significance of technical writing, highlighting how it gained prominence during World War II and the computer revolution. The major elements of technical writing are then outlined as technical definitions, technical descriptions, and technical instructions. Technical definitions are used to define specialized vocabulary for the intended audience. Technical descriptions provide factual details, steps, and figures. Technical instructions provide directions to correctly perform a process.

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137 views15 pages

Elements of Style and Technical Writing

This document discusses the elements of style and technical writing. It begins with an introduction to technical writing, noting that it is intended to deliver factual information to an audience for a specific purpose. It then discusses the history and significance of technical writing, highlighting how it gained prominence during World War II and the computer revolution. The major elements of technical writing are then outlined as technical definitions, technical descriptions, and technical instructions. Technical definitions are used to define specialized vocabulary for the intended audience. Technical descriptions provide factual details, steps, and figures. Technical instructions provide directions to correctly perform a process.

Uploaded by

ahmed ibrahim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ELEMENTS OF STYLE AND

TECHNICAL WRITING
BY
Lubuulwa Ahmed Ibrahim
MD32/2712/23
PhD Kiswahili and Communication
Content

 Introduction
 History of Technical Writing
 Significance of Technical Writing
 Elements of Technical Writing
Introduction

Technical Writing is a type of writing that is intended to


deliver factual information to audience to be used for a
specific purpose. It is writing done at workplace on a
technical subject.
This type of writing has its distinctive features and
characteristics that make it unique. These
characteristics combined give the type of writing its
textuality.
History of Technical Writing
Cont….
The different characteristics or features of Technical Writing
are useful in communicating information to the intended
audience for instance; the general public, managers and
technical people e.g theorists and technicians; they deal with
practical and scientific aspects.
It is therefore important to priotise the audience while writing
because they are the ultimate consumers of the written
works.
Cont…..
This type of writing gained ground during World War II with
the invention of nuclear bombs and was later expedited
during the computer revolution; ranging from automobiles to
operation manuals.
Though the subject matter is complicated, technical writing
must not be, there is need for clear and concise writing in
order to communicate – which is the key target. The audience
is a priority of technical writing.
Elements of Technical Writing

There are three major elements of Technical Writing;


 Technical definitions
 Technical descriptions
 Technical instructions
Technical Definitions

Technical writing uses customized and specialized


language known to a small technical audience. The
language used carries specific meaning therefore a need
to define vocabulary in the common language for the
benefit of the wider audience that might not have
technical knowledge. Technical definitions manifest in
different ways;
(a) Informal definitions

These are brief explanations in a word or phrase form


defining concepts; these are written within a sentence
where the concept is used and is marked by either
commas or parantheses e.g;
- The humidity (moisture contained in the air) affects
human body temperature.
- Rafiki, a friend in Swahili land, is an insider who must
be so helpful.
(b) Formal or sentence definitions

These are definitions of concepts done in a sentence or


more; such definitions have 3 components; the concept
to be defined, category of the concept and the
uniqueness of the concept in relation to concepts in the
same category.
Example

Concept - Artificial intelligence


Category – Applications that perform complex
tasks
Uniqueness – tasks that once required human input
(c) Extended definitions

These are definitions done in more than a sentence


(paragraphs) in order to give explanations, justifications
and clarifications through use of examples. This is done
depending on the complexity of the concept and the
knowledge level of the audience.
Technical Descriptions

This a section of the work that details facts about the


operations manual or technical report; this indicates facts,
steps and figures.
There are to forms of technical descriptions;
(a) Description of a technical mechanism which concerns
combinations of devices, machines and analysis of
operations.
(b) Description a technical process; it describes procedure
and steps controlled by people and virtually.
Technical Instructions

These are directions that assist the reader to correctly


and successfully perform a process after understanding
it well. This takes an effort to comprehend otherwise if
not well understood, there may be harm or disaster or
even spoil the equipment.
Technical instructions are similar to technical
descriptions, however, technical instructions involve
physical processes like repair, assembling, testing,
maintaining, etc.
References
Darlene Smith-Worthington, Sue Jefferson: Technical Writing
for Success 3rd Edition. United States of America.
James H. Shelton (1994): Handbook for Technical Writing,
London: NTC Contemporary Publishing Group.
Dr. Micheal Azariadis (2018): Foundations of Academic Writing.
University of Western Australia.

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