Defining technical writing is a tricky proposition. For sure, it is the documenting of technical briefings, descriptions, proposals and reports; however, the level of content and formality of style will vary greatly based on the audience and business needs. Technical communicators must strike a balance between writing to subject-matter experts such as teammates and staff in cross-disciplines and to less technical executives, internal or external clients, vendors and regulators. Determining the content and style for diverse audiences can be the greatest challenge that technical writers face. And bad writing is just too costly. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that nearly a third of all workplace writing is to clarify or to seek clarification of previously written content.
This webinar addresses the daunting task of conveying complex technical data clearly, concisely and purposefully to technical and non-expert audiences alike. Writing examples from diverse technical fields make the webinar highly relevant. The program builds a foundation for learning by identifying the qualities of effective writing and the roadblocks to achieving them. Then the program shifts to principles and examples of two major styles of technical writing: formal, impersonal and informal, personal. This segment offers key insights into how to adapt a technical writing style to the reader’s needs. The next part of the webinar provides memorable tips for writing with clarity, conciseness and power. Through a display of sentences and paragraphs before and after editing, the rewriting process of technical writing becomes evident. The program concludes with vital pointers on writing summaries, a must skill for technical communicators.