Download Technical English: The principles of technical communication

Technical English: The principles of technical communication
The principles of technical communication
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Q - What is technical writing?
A - Writing that deals with topics of a technical nature.
Q - What is the difference between technical and nontechnical
writing?
A - With technical writing the language is utilitarian, stressing
accuracy rather than style. The tone is objective; the technical
content, not the writing style or the author’s feelings towards
the subject, is the focal point.
Q - What is the primary goal of technical writing?
A - To transmit technical information accurately. Entertainment
and/or persuasion are of secondary importance.
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Sentence length
I should like to arrange a further meeting.
(the main clause)
Further to our recent meeting
regarding electricity supply and
utilisation, I would like very
much to arrange a further meeting
with you to discuss the subject,
coupled with a general discussion
on electrical applications and
equipment capable of providing
possible reductions in unit
production costs, such as
electric/steam generators and
convection/radiant ovens coupled
to load control equipment.
This sentence contains fifty-nine
words
1. further to our recent meeting
2. regarding electricity supply and utilisation
3. to discuss the subject
(three subsidiary ideas)
We could have a general discussion
(the next idea)
1. about electrical applications and equipment
(another subsidiary idea)
2. capable of providing possible reductions in
unit production costs
(more details)
3. such as electricity/steam generators and
convection/radiant ovens coupled to load
control equipment
(more examples)
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Sentence length
The main ideas:
1. I should like to arrange a further meeting.
2. At the same time, we could discuss equipment
3. I can give you examples of the kind of
equipment I have in mind.
Further to our recent meeting
regarding electricity supply and
utilisation, I would like very
much to arrange a further meeting
with you to discuss the subject,
coupled with a general discussion
on electrical applications and
equipment capable of providing
possible reductions in unit
production costs, such as
electric/steam generators and
convection/radiant ovens coupled
to load control equipment.
I should like to arrange a further meeting with you to continue our
discussions of [date] on electricity supply and use.
At the same time, we could have a general look at electrical
applications and equipment capable of providing reductions in unit
production costs. I have in mind electric/steam generators and
convection/radiant ovens coupled to load control equipment.
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Active v Passive voice
John opened the valve
The installation of thermal
insulation cut fuel costs
A thermostat controls the
temperature
Our technical editors
frequently update the
instruction manuals
The valve was opened by
John
Fuel cost savings were
realised through the
installation of thermal
insulation
Control of the furnace is
provided by a thermostat
The instruction manuals are
frequently updated by our
technical editors
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Active v Passive voice
We heat treated the samples
at 850 °C





The heat treatment of the
samples was carried out at
850°C
More information
More direct
More vigour
More clarity
Fewer words
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Active v Passive voice
Q – When should we use the passive voice?
A – When we want to emphasise the ‘subject’ not the ‘doer’
Selman Waksman discovered Streptomycin, the first
streptomycin, the first
effective cure for
effective cure for tuberculosis tuberculosis, was discovered
by Selman Waksman
A – When it cannot be easily converted to active
Soft magnets are made of iron Make soft magnets out of iron
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Active v Passive voice
Q – When should we use the passive voice?
A – When the subject is unknown or unimportant
We overlooked the mistake
The mistake was overlooked
We have superseded his
invention
His invention has been
superseded
A – When it sounds stupid
My mother bore me in Kranj
I was born in Kranj
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Active v Passive voice
The main reason for avoiding the passive voice is not its
wordiness but its confusion as to who is doing what to whom
We showed that substance A
affected agent B
It was shown that substance A
affected agent B
 Who showed it?
 When was it shown?
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Transitions
Sentences cannot simply be put together, they need a word or
phrase which joins them, they should otherwise be separate,
the commas should be changed to full stops.
Sentences cannot simply be put together. They need a word or
phrase which joins them. They should otherwise be separate.
The commas should be changed to full stops.
Sentences cannot simply be put together. Either they need a
word or phrase which joins them or they should be kept
separate. The commas should be changed to full stops.
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Transitions
The offer, submitted by Iskratel d.o.o. of Kranj, Slovenia, will
probably be accepted by our company. Most of our institutional
shareholders favour it, according to a survey. Many of the
smaller investors favour the German bid. This bid is at a slightly
higher price.
The offer, submitted by Iskratel d.o.o. of Kranj, Slovenia, will
probably be accepted by our company because, according to a
survey, most of our institutional shareholders favour it. Not
surprisingly, many of the smaller investors favour the German
bid, which is at a slightly higher price.
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Transitions
The Douglas-fir and ponderosa-pine seedlings were first planted
in the study plots in May 1998. They were protected from deer
browsing with paper budcaps. Deer were particularly abundant
that spring. The seedlings were heavily browsed. Browsing
obscures subsequent height differences, one of the key
experimental variables. The study plots were replanted with
seedlings of the same species in March 1999 during cold wet
weather. The seedlings were encased in more durable plastic
mesh tubes immediately after planting.
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Transitions
The Douglas-fir and ponderosa-pine seedlings, first
planted in the study plots in May 1998, were protected from
deer browsing with paper budcaps. However, deer were
particularly abundant that spring, and despite protection, the
seedlings were heavily browsed. Because browsing obscures
subsequent height differences, one of the key experimental
variables, the study plots were replanted with seedlings of the
same species in March 1999 during cold wet weather. This
time the seedlings were encased in more durable plastic mesh
tubes immediately after planting.
Technical English: The principles of technical communication
Sounding positive
If the trend shown continues, then there should be no reason why an
improvement in productivity of approaching 40% is not achievable.
(too negative)
If we keep up the good work, we’ll just about make a 40% rise in production.
(too informal)
If the present trend continues, we should approach a 40% rise in production.
(better)
A 40% rise in production is forecast if the present trend continues.
(positive)