Collaborative definition of technical writing: Ashley Mauldin and Jason Patterson

The main objective of technical writing is to convey detailed information for a specific topic. Although it’s most used in explaining technology, it can be used to accommodate almost any field. To be a technical writer, someone must be knowledgeable in a particular field in order to communicate the needed material. Before someone starts composing a form of technical writing, considerable research must be done. With all the information available on the Internet, the researcher must be able to decipher which material is creditable and useful. When communicating the material the writer must remember that the purpose of technical writing is to communicate information in a precise and understandable way to the intended audience, whether it is a group that is highly knowledgeable about the noted topic or a general audience. Because of that, the writer must know the audience and know what type of communication will present the information in the clearest way. In addition, technical writing is not limited to one specific type of format, but rather can be communicated in various ways. However, the type of format chosen must convey the information in a detailed yet understandable fashion so that everyone will gain something from the document.