The best technical writing is difficult to find as most technical writing is likely to be overly complicated. Technical writing is commonly used in the following documents:
- whitepapers;
- training course material;
- reference guides;
- product descriptions;
- online training course material;
- instruction/user manual;
- yearly reports;
- product manuals.
8 tips to improve technical writing
1. Understand what the targeted audience already knows
When you write to educate or inform what your targeted audience already knows is absolutely essential, particularly in the technical area. It’s not much use trying to explain the inner workings of a technical topic if your audience doesn’t have a basic understanding of it in the first place. If you appreciate your audience’s knowledge you can then educate them in such a way that it assists them to build up a foundation that they actually need.
2. Think about how you present your information
It’s often extremely difficult to engage with your audience when the subject matter is complex. So you need to hire a translator who can effectively make the knowledge you have to offer engaging.
3. Use supporting images where you can
The modern reader these days has a far shorter attention span and so to engage these sorts of people you need to use a variety of images. Eye-catching informative images do the most to keep the audience interested in the technical document.
4. Simplify language where you can
When using technical language don’t make it too complicated. The commonest pitfall of technical writing is that the reader isn’t considered when the writing is compiled. The simplest and shortest way to explain complicated technical text works the best. If some of your audience doesn’t speak your language the best way to keep them focused is to get the technical documents translated accurately into your audience’s languages.
5. Ensure your readers know your content
Providing an outline of your writing will ensure your readers will understand precisely what you have to offer. You shouldn’t waste a reader’s time so offering a summary of the content you are about to provide will help the audience understand what you are selling and if they are interested in purchasing.
6. Don’t be too serious
A lot of technical writing covers the more serious matters which doesn’t always attract an audience. Often technical subjects need to be spruced up so that they can really engage with an audience, so having some fun with a subject is the best way to do it. Remember, you’re writing your technical content so people will read it, and while in an ideal world.
7. Avoid using specific dates and time
Writing needs to be future-proofed so using specific dates makes some writing out of date quickly. If you fail to do this you will find that your audience will lack interest in the technical content you have provided.
8. Find a 3rd party to read and review your writing before it’s published
You should always ask somebody to read and review all that you write and this person should be looking out for both grammar errors and the accuracy of the facts you have provided.
Great technical writing is difficult to achieve and as a result is often quite rare, but you can take your technical writing to the highest level if you choose a technical translator with technical writing certification so that you can maximize how much your audience will gain from your content.