Techniques of Technical Writing

I would first like to cover some of the techniques of technical writing so you have a better reference for them and how they will apply to different genres of technical writing. Good technical writing will place emphasis on all of the following techniques.

Audience

In technical writing, and really any type of writing, it is imperative that you understand your audience. The recipient of your writings will shape every part of your delivery, from your diction to your sentence structure. Before writing you should make a distinct determination of who your writing is directed towards. You want to practice what is called reader-centered writing which means that as you are writing you are always thinking of your audience and how they would receive your writing. Your writing might benefit from a you-centered business style, which uses language that emphasizes the audiences needs and interests. Below is a table you can use to reference when determining the audience for your writing.

Presentation

When delivering a presentation, there are steps to take to ensure your success. You must plan, organize, converse, practice, and learn how to calm down. The planning portion goes back to knowing your audience. Also know your purpose and all the high points. Organize your presentation with a clear outline using all the main components of a paper. Have a strong introduction, your main body of information, and another strong closing to tie it all together. Keep a conversational tone to retain the interest of the audience. Once you have planned and organized, practice your presentation. Whether you practice to a family member or a mirror, the repetitions will build your confidence and help with the last step. Learning how to calm the nerves before or during a presentation will help with your delivery. Deep, long, deliberate belly breaths can help calm anxiety especially when combined with affirmations. 

Other things to consider with presentations are your verbal and nonverbal language. With verbal language, it's not just what you say but also how you say it. Some verbal habits to stay away from that will have a negative impression on your audience are vocal fry, upspeak, dropping phrases, vocalizations, and monotone language. Nonverbal language to be aware of includes eye contact, facial expressions, posture, gestures, and movement.

Design

Your design has a direct influence on the effectiveness of your product. The appropriate design will differ according to certain criteria. Of course, the audience will be a major factor as usual. Your purpose, style guidelines, writing style, layout and content will also play a role in design decisions. 

There are six main elements of a page design to account for. Those are text, headings and titles, graphics, white space, headers and footers, and physical features. Placement, coloring, and sizing for all of these elements must be well thought out and match the purpose of your product. For example, an infographic for construction site safety should have a large heading and title to attract attention, and graphics to detail the safety concerns in a way that is easily understandable. 

Writing Style 

As already stated, your writing style for technical writing should be reader centered. In addition to this, there are several other considerations. Technical writing should follow formal academic writing conventions. All claims should be substantiated with citations, free of bias, conjecture, and inflammatory language. Language should be formal and concise, avoiding colloquialisms. Depending on the document, you may write in first, second, or third person. If the document does not require speaking directly to someone, third person is the most appropriate. Make declarative statements and use complete wording in lieu of contractions. Following these guidelines will ensure your writing is effective and appropriate.