According to my professor way back in college, the definition of Technical Writing is "a form of conveying information being practiced by professionals in the technical field." But here's how he gave his formal definition:
"Technical writing is a method of communication which treats of subjects falling within the general field of engineering and science, with a basic role of serving science and technology."
He treated technical writing as a serious subject matter as according to him, it is characterized by certain formal aspects and properties.
What are the formal elements encompassed by technical writing?
Our good professor enumerated the before following:
1. Aside from the broad definition given above, he said that " in technical writing the usage of scientific and technical vocabulary, along with graphic aids and conventional report formats could not be avoided."
2. Technical writing involves impartiality and objectivity. Conveying of information should be done accurately and concisely without any attempt to arouse emotion.
3. In technical writing there is relatively high concentration of writing about techniques, definitions, classifications, description of mechanisms, even description of processes.
