Benefits of Technical/Professional Writing

What is Technical Writing?

Technical writing is a field that struggles to find a precise definition for itself. Though many have tried to create an all-encompassing definition that will cover the entirety of the field all have fallen short in some way or another. The biggest mistake seems to be making too narrow a definition for such an expansive field. Rather than creating a useful definition to describe what a technical writer does, definitions seem to only limit the field to a few, very specific tasks. Technical writers often don many caps and their work may include anything from editing a document to learning how to scuba dive in order to write a manual on the subject.

One definition of technical writing comes from W Earl Britton who claims that technical writing should be communication that has “one meaning and only one meaning” (Allen, The Case Against Defining Technical Writing). However, that is a very limiting definition for such a broad field. A slightly more inclusive definition comes from Dorbin who describes it as “writing that accommodates technology to the user” (What is Technical About Technical Writing?). While Dorbin’s definition is more inclusive than Britton’s it is still very confining and limits technical writing to writing that specifically addresses technology when in reality technical writing can include many diverse topics. Ultimately, to define technical writing is to place it within a box and put restrictions on a very broad subject that inherently crosses between many different fields, knowledge, and skill sets.

The Value of a Technical Writer

A Technical Writer in general can be a valuable asset to any company. Technical Writers are capable of accomplishing a wide number of tasks and often have more to offer than they get recognition for. Technical Writing can include editing documents internally for a company, editing documents to be distributed or displayed to the public, generating any needed documents, writing clear and concise directions or instructions, such as manuals for a product that the company sells or directions for technology and procedures within the office. Technical Writers are also invaluable to companies when it comes to new social media, they can skillfully run a company’s blog, Facebook, or Twitter account and these media outlets can greatly impact a company’s public image. Some Tech Writers are even called upon to run the entire company website! Grant writing is also a huge skill that Technical Writers have. A convincingly written argument for grant money is an extremely valuable asset for any company, but especially those who are primarily funded by grants.

The CEA Forum specifically benefits from having a Tech Writer because they have so much of their content online. Technical Writers excel at using technology such as the Internet, websites, content management systems, etc. and The CEA Forum is an ideal combination of this type of technology and the other half of Technical Writing, the writing. The CEA Forum collects submissions from authors and reviews their writing; editing and written communication skills are a must for this to happen effectively. Back to the technology part of Technical Writing the articles are then published online. This is all one seamless process for someone skilled in current technology, English, rhetoric, editing, and document design.

Don’t Underestimate the Humanities

Though the disciplines within the Humanities category are frequently overlooked as “artistic” more than “practical” they are still relevant subjects and worth consideration. Studying humanities, particularly “regular English” studies with emphasis on literature and a style of writing that favors eloquence over preciseness, these studies can still equip potential employees with the ability to relate to and understand their audience. This ability can be very important, especially if the goal is advertisement or persuasion. With any type of marketing knowing and relating to the audience is key. Social media is another area where training in the Humanities is advantageous. Social media is all about speaking in the same language as the audience, otherwise the message is foreign and an “outsider” from the group. Messages that do not cohere to the correct language and format lack credibility and are ignored or mocked. Elizabeth Tebeaux claims “Literature, the stronghold of enculturation, can teach students a great deal about human nature and communal values. Clearly, students need as much knowledge about the human personality and community as possible when they consider the problems of audience, the concept that lies at the foundation of technical writing” (“Let’s Not Ruin Technical Writing Too”). People knowledgeable about the Humanities can be just as valuable to a company as a Technical Writer, and Accountant, or a manager. Those who study the Humanities can have practical applications as well as the conceptual ones they are well known for and one of their strongest abilities is knowing the audience they are communicating with and understanding how to expertly use the medium, language, and culture they are in.

Sources

Allen, Jo. "The Case Against Defining Technical Writing."

Dorbin, David. "What is Technical About Technical Writing?" 

Tebeaux, Elizabeth. "Let's Not Ruin Technical Writing, Too: A Comment on the Essays of Carolyn Miller and Elizabeth Harris."