![Definition of Technical Style
• The manner of writing a technical document
is called Technical Style.
It is always formal in tone.
It presents clear-cut facts.
It avoids emotional language.
It is free of errors [grammar, spelling,
punctuation]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/technicalstyle-200710094041/85/Technical-style-2-320.jpg)
Technical style
- 1. Technical Style Definition, Types and Methods Dr. Debaleena Dutta PSIT Kanpur
- 2. Definition of Technical Style • The manner of writing a technical document is called Technical Style. It is always formal in tone. It presents clear-cut facts. It avoids emotional language. It is free of errors [grammar, spelling, punctuation]
- 3. Types of Technical Writing Styles For teaching Purposes For Research purposes For Office Purposes Research papers; Thesis 1. Technical books for students. 2. User manuals 1. Reports 2. Proposals 3. Resume & Cover letter Informative Style; Persuasive style Informative Style Informative style; Instructional style
- 4. 3 types of Technical Style 1. Informational Style 2. Persuasive style 3. Instruction-based style
- 5. Informational Style • Used in Reports; Thesis; Research Papers. Also used in textbooks for students. • Target: to pass on information.
- 6. Persuasive style • Used in Resume; Cover letter; Proposals; Sales letters. • Target: to convince the reader about an idea.
- 7. Instruction-based style • Used in user manuals. • Target: to explain in easy language some technical steps to a non-technical audience.
- 8. Methods of using Technical Style
- 9. Methods: How to use the Correct Style Understanding the Audience Understanding the Goal Following the 7 C’s of technical Writing
- 10. Understanding Audience • In case of research writing, the audience is mostly technical, and knows core concepts. • In case of user manuals, text-books, the audience is mostly non-expert. • In case of reports and proposals, the audience may be expert, but of other field.
- 11. Understanding Audience • Depending upon the type of audience, we adjust the level of difficulty. • This includes changes in the no. of technical terms, pictures & examples.
- 12. Goal = Junction point of all 3 styles GOAL Persuade
- 13. Goal of Technical Writing Technical Documents try either to instruct, inform or persuade. Eg. • A resume will persuade an HR to hire you. • A report will inform the audience of facts about an issue after investigation. • A manual will instruct people to handle a machine or software.
- 14. Goal/Purpose But a good technical document contains all the three purposes—one main, and the other two in trace amount. Eg. A user manual instructs the user how to use a device. informs the user of warranty, warnings, etc. persuades the reader to follow the safety warnings by using pictures.
- 15. Following 7 C’s of Technical Writing 1. Concise writing—Short sentences. Short paragraphs of 80-100 words. Avoid cliches and redundancies. 2. Clarity in facts —Use examples; Pictures; glossary for technical terms. Use active voice. Use discourse markers. Avoid negative words. 3. Concreteness —use numerical data in place of vague adjectives. Use evidence to support your claims. 4. Completeness —give all information about the product. Warnings, expiry date, limitations of research, etc.
- 16. Following 7 C’s of Technical Writing 5. Correctness: Check for errors in spelling grammar punctuation. choice of words. Formal documents a free of slangs and emotional outbursts. Eg. for choice of words: The van cut the signal and rammed my car at the back. The idiot was drunk!
- 17. Following 7 C’s of Technical Writing 5. Correctness: Check for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. Correctness also includes choice of words. Formal documents a free of slangs and emotional outbursts. The van cut the signal and rammed my car at the back. The idiot was drunk ! violated Collided with under alcohol - influence .driver After Removing slang words:
- 18. Following 7 C’s of Technical Writing 6. Courtesy: Use gender-neutral words; use hedging words that avoid hurting the readers. 7. Consideration: Put yourself in audience’s shoes and edit you document. This includes using proper fonts, font sizing, spacing, usage of good pictures, better quality paper and binding material, etc.