What Is the Function of Technical Writing?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

Technical writing is mainly used to pass on fundamental details of various equipment or technical solutions in a way that is easy to understand for the lay person, with the goal being to inform decision makers as much as possible. Technical writing is commonly employed within many organizations, ranging from universities to businesses.

Technical writing also needs to be tailored to meet the needs of the specified readership. This can often vary between managerial staff or supervisory staff. Senior decision making staff will often need to know the costs, benefits and possible difficulties of certain solutions, whereas engineering or technical staff may need to know more in-depth specifications.

The most fundamental aspect of technical writing is making sure that the report is easy to understand, especially for readers not experienced in the subject area. This often involves reducing and altering technical jargon as much as possible.

In universities, technical writing is used to communicate across disciplines in many cases, especially in the areas of information technology, applied science and engineering. Once again, presenting information in a clear, easy to understand format that can easily be digested by non-experts is crucial. Successful technical writing will always pass on the fundamental points without confusing the reader.