Hey there!
Welcome to part two (2) of my article in Technical Writing: A Beginner’s Guide.
In my last post, I talked about what technical writing is, who a technical writer is, and the Skills you need as a technical writer. Read here.
In this article, I am going to be talking about Differentiating between Technical Writing and Content Writing and the Goal of Technical Writing.
Differences between Technical Writing and Content Writing
Technical writing and content writing are two different forms of writing, often people think that they are the same because of their similar surface in terms of both dealing with content and requiring some skills in common.
Here are the differences between the two:
Purpose and Audience:
Technical writing: Technical writing solely focuses on providing instruction, explanations or documentation related to technical subjects, products or procedures. The goal of technical writing is to help users to understand and implement specific tasks. For example, a user manual that comes with a blender or that manual that came with your TV set.
It is intended for a specialized audience who typically has some background knowledge or expertise in the subject matter.
Content writing: Content writing aims to inform, engage or entertain the audience. this includes social media posts, blog posts or articles, marketing copies and other forms of content we see online. Content writing often focuses on storytelling, emotional appeal, and persuasive language to capture the attention of a general audience.
Style and Tone:
Technical writing: Technical writing deals with clarity, accuracy and consistency. The tone is objective and formal objective, it focuses on presenting facts and information, without personal opinion or personal emotions.
Content writing: Content writing encourages creativity. Depending on the targeted audience, the style can be casual, informative or entertaining.
Subject matter:
Technical writing: Technical writing covers topics related to technology, science, engineering, medicine, user manuals, software documentation, and product specification.
Content writing: Content writing covers a wide range of subjects and they include, lifestyle, fashion, entertainment, marketing, health, etc.
Related article: Read here
The goal of Technical Writing
The goal of technical writing is to communicate effectively complex information, instructions or concepts in a clear and organized manner to a specific audience
The primary objectives of technical writing include:
Clarity: Technical writing aims to present information straightforwardly. It should avoid jargon or overly complex language that may confuse the audience.
Comprehensibility: The content should be understandable to the target audience, which may include both technical and non-technical readers.
Accuracy: Technical writing must be based on accurate and reliable information. It should be thoroughly researched and reviewed to ensure the information presented is correct.
Purpose-driven: Technical writing is purpose-driven and focused on achieving specific goals, such as providing instructions for using a product, explaining how a system works, or describing a process.
Consistency: Technical documents should maintain consistency in terminology, formatting, and style throughout, enhancing readability and reducing confusion.
Usability: The information provided should be practical and applicable. It should help the readers achieve their intended goals or tasks effectively.
Organization: Technical documents should be well-structured with a logical flow. Information should be presented in a sequence that makes sense and aids understanding.
Visual aids: Effective technical writing often includes visual aids like diagrams, charts, illustrations, and graphs to enhance understanding and complement the textual information.
Technical writing is commonly used in various fields, such as software documentation, engineering manuals, medical instructions, user guides, scientific papers, and more. By achieving its goals, technical writing facilitates effective communication between experts and end-users, improving product comprehension, and minimizing errors or misunderstandings.
Related article: Read here.
In the next and final article, I am going to be talking about Understanding Technology and Writing Ability. See you!