Preface

In a world of rapid technological development, people are constantly falling behind and becoming technological illiterates. Technology companies are constantly struggling to find effective ways to help customers or potential customers understand the advantages or the operation of their new products. Technical writing is a specialised, structured way of writing, where information is presented in a format and manner that best suits the cognitive and psychological needs of the readers, so they can respond to a document as its author intended and achieve the purpose related to that document. Thus,  unequivocal, and enjoyable as possible. It so happens that most technical writing positions are still primarily offered to those who can write effective end-user manuals, system design documents, Web sites, and the like for engineering and IT firms.

A good technical writer can write about a complicated technical subject or task in ways that almost anyone can understand. Precision in technical writing tends to be critical because if anything is described incorrectly, readers may act improperly on what is said, causing mistakes and problems at work. Technical writers often have a certified degree in English, technical writing, the technical field for which they are writing, or a combination of these. It is most important that they have enough expertise to understand their audience’s background and needs.

This book aims to teach students the skill of technical writing. It is unique in that it gets to the point, uses practical outlines throughout, and actually shows students how to produce the most common technical documents step-by-step.