Technical Business Writing

What is Technical Business Writing?

Where should one use Technical Business Writing?

How is Technical Business Writing a game changer?

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“Technical Business Writing aids in simplifying the complexity of technology with the help of words.”

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Introduction

Technical business writing is one of the most powerful tools to communicate your business’s unique value proposition and express your brand’s personality.

Technical business writing is a writing discipline that is sometimes defined as simplifying the complex.

Technical business writing relates to writing that intends to –

·???????instruct,

·???????inform,

·???????guide; or

·???????direct

audience on how to do something.

Technical business writing is an audience-centered means of communication that provides a reader with clear and easy access and understanding to information.

The shortest explanation of technical business writing is “writing complex things in a simple form”.

The primary intention of technical business writing is breaking down complicated processes into easy-to-understand articles.

Technical business writing is stating facts in an organized manner that is straight to the point. The main focus of technical business writing is making the information explicitly clear to the readers.

It is the responsibility of tech-writers to report accurate information and also give credits to the legitimate sources of such information.

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Examples of Technical writing

Some common everyday examples of technical business writing are:

·???????press releases

·???????resumes

·???????training modules for new employees

·???????business proposals

·???????datasheets

·???????policy documents

·???????product packaging

·???????instruction manuals

·???????promotional brochures

·???????web articles

·???????requirement specifications

·???????website write-ups

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Practical use of Technical business writing

Unlike other writing types, technical business writing is remarkably different since the main purpose of it is to convey a particular skill or expertise. Technical business writing not only needs advance knowledge of the topic one is working on but also an eye for details.

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The fields in which technical business writing is being used is emerging extensively. In recent times, technical business writing has been evidently used in various fields, such as:

·???????Engineering

·???????Computer hardware

·???????Software companies

·???????Chemistry labs

·???????Biotechnology

·???????Pharmaceutical

·???????Information technology

·???????Government

·???????Construction

·???????Food processing and preservation

·???????Aeronautics

·???????Robotics

·???????Finance

·???????Media

Thus indicating that tech-writers are in demand in almost all fields across various sectors.

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Skills to work on

Technical business writing can get tricky at times. The method to reach the desired outcomes is complex. One may feel like they are walking in the dark as the content creation needs to be gathered and allocated in bits and pieces. However, if a person focuses and works on the following skill sets then they are guaranteed to achieve exceptional results.

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·???????Technical skills - Technical skills are the capabilities and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks. Technical skills require training and experience to master which ends up making them a type of hard skill. Hard skills are those that can be taught in a classroom to be evaluated, and measured. E.g.: Social media management, Data analysis, coding, etc.

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·???????Research skills –Technical business writers often tend to deal with content that are completely new to them or out of their subject of knowledge, interest and expertise. In such burdensome times, research comes into picture as a true savior. Research not only helps to give an overview of a subject but thorough research can provide intense knowledge and data for content creation.

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·???????Grammar skills - Grammar is an inseparable part of technical business writing. Grammar is one skill set that cannot have any compromises. It is essential to formulate articles that are grammatically correct. Technical business writers should have no shame to revisit the basics of a language to get their grammar correct.

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·???????Editing skills: Technical business writing and editing skills are highly associated with each other.Editing involves carefully analyzing content before it is ready to be finalized and suggesting or making changes to content to correct or improve it without altering intended meanings and interpretations.Effective editing will not only help make bad writing good but also make good writing becomes even better.

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·???????Problem-solving skills – Usually, a technical business writer faces difficulty in converting complex content into easy to understand article for the reader as he needs to keep in mind that the reader is not an expert and has basic knowledge and understanding.Technical business writers often have to communicate highly technical information to a non-technical audience. Keeping in mind the reader’s point of view, the technical business writer needs to study and analyse from the reader’s aspect.Technical business writers need to be aware of the behaviors, norms, beliefs and values of the audience. In such difficult time, he should be good at problem solving to overcome such obstacles. Of all the possible solutions he can come up with, he needs to choose the best one for the readers so that they don’t lose engagement in content.

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·???????Skills of Proofreading - Proofreading is the final stage of technical business writing. Proofreading is done to the final draft prepared of the technical write up. A proofread is conclusive check-up to ensure that there are no errors, spelling mistakes or grammatical corrections in the write up. One needs to double check because right after proofreading, the article is directly sent for publishing or uploading.

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The 4 C’s to keep in mind

While technical business writing can be a task, these four C’s will help to simplify the process:

Clearness – Ensure that the content has clarity and is easily understood by your audience

Comprehensive – Make sure that all of the necessary information is provided to the reader

Compact – Avoid writing lengthy write-ups. Short and precise articles help in retaining audience engagement

Correct – Provide information that is grammatically and technically correct

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Is Technical Business Writing an Art or Science?

Is technical business writing an Art? Sometimes.

Is it science? Other times, yes.

Can it be both at the same time? Let’s find out.

Like most things, the truth lies somewhere in between the lines.

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Most people have this misconception that science means a list of rules and laws that need to be followed and implemented. Science does not necessary mean sticking to book knowledge. Science is highly associated with obtaining objective knowledge. Science helps us to understand things better by asking curious questions, making relevant observations and analyzing available data. Science is mainly related to inquiry and experimentation.

Art on the other hand doesn’t necessarily mean craft and drawing. Art is a much wider concept that is linked with creativity and expression. The process that tech-writers go through to put together meaningful words to create sentences and articles that form a purposeful write up itself is an art.

The science of technical business writing includes factors such as sentence structure, grammar, point of view (POV) and proofreading. The art of technical business writing includes factors such as reader engagement, formulation of simple articles from complex content, problem solving and research.

As you have read this article, you have got well versed with the different aspects relating to technical business writing. Thus, it is safe to say that the writing of the content can be considered as the technical-science side, while the formulation/storytelling can be contemplated to be a part of the art side.

Hence, Technical business writing is both, Art as well as Science.

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Conclusion

Technical business writing isn’t just a regular skill but an emerging career option. The demand for tech-writers is ought to grow. It won’t be a surprise if technical business writing will become an essential factor to boost sales and a survival skill to yield finances in the near future.

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Cheers,

Jagmohan Rishi Singh