Benefits of Technical/Professional Writing

Defining Technical Writing

There are many as many definitions of technical writing as there are technical writers in the field. W Earl Britton defines technical writing as communication “that has one meaning and only one meaning” (Allen, The Case Against Defining Technical Writing). By this, Britton assumes that certain words intentionally put together in a specific way will always mean just one idea. Another potential definition of technical writing is “writing that accommodates technology to the user” (Allen). However, putting a definition on the entirety of the field of technical writing has to date been the focus of much discussion. There are many kinds of technical writers, and not all technical writers deal with complex fields like science, medicine, and technology (Allen).

For the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, Inc., a technical writer must be able write and edit documents of many different formats. Forms are heavily used at SEK-CAP as a method of collecting information about clients. The hired technical writer must know what makes a good and bad form and be able to edit existing forms to successfully serve the demographics of the clients we serve. Grant writing is another important aspect of SEK-CAP. SEK-CAP receives most of its income from government or private funds, and grant writing is crucial to landing that funding. The technical writer will deal heavily with grants. The third major position the technical writer will hold is in writing or editing employee manuals. Crucial information that affects operations and transmits federal law is carried in these manuals, and the technical writer must ensure that the wording is clear, concise, and accurate; in other words, accurate and indisputable under the law, yet easy for employees to read and understand. Finally, an additional responsibility that may fall to the technical writer is running SEK-CAP’s social media. The technical writer must understand the audience, find relevant information, and deliver the information in a way that is interesting to read.

Why A Technical Writer?

The value in a technical writer is immeasurable. By hiring a technical writer, SEK-CAP will be able to add a valuable ally who can deliver crucial information to clients and employees in easy-to-digest bites. Nothing is as useless as a document that the reader cannot understand or use. Furthermore, some of SEK-CAP’s clients are LEPs, or people with Limited English Proficiency. The clients may know a little English, but not enough to understand complex sentences and a large vocabulary. A technical writer will know how to translate important documents into Basic English. Basic English is language that is easy to understand for clients with a limited knowledge of English, or even clients with a limited education. Basic English can also be translated into other languages much easier than a document written in formal English. This has endless use for SEK-CAP.

Value in Humanities

Keep in mind, however, technical writers can come from any degree outside of plain “technical writing.” Many brilliant and useful writers and editors can come out of the humanities department. Their skills in ‘regular English’, literature, and rhetoric could be very useful. The writing they have done in the past could very well be considered technical. After all, “no one is prepared to say which subjects are ‘technical.’ . . . Reality doesn't come in packages clearly marked ‘technical’ or ‘nontechnical’ (Miller, A Humanistic Rational for Technical Writing).” In other words, an English major could still have the skill and understanding to be an excellent technical writer, and the skills they gathered through school could be a valuable asset to SEK-CAP. Humanity degrees have studied methods of rhetoric and the realities of human thought. This could be invaluable in much of the work the technical writer will have to do, such as grant-writing and social media operation. To be able to convince the audience to agree with the writing requires careful wording and an understanding of humanity. Further, the English language does not handle impersonality very well (Miller). It would be prudent to hire someone who has a firm grasp on how to use the English language clearly and effectively. This person could very well come from a degree that teaches syntax, control, vocabulary, and history of language.

Sources

Allen, Jo. "The Case Against Defining Technical Writing." Writing in the Workplace. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1998. N. pag. Print.

Millar, Carolyn. "A Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing." Print.