Features of technical writing Personal( I, we) vs impersonal (writer, author), one ambiguity

Features of technical writing

• Personal( I, we) vs impersonal (writer, author), one - ambiguity

• Passive vs active

• Clarity- redundant words

• Nominalization

• Readability

Redundant words

• Wordy

• It is my purpose in this report to present and justify the modifications that I recommend in order to increase the performance of your engine.

Redundant words

• Better

• My purpose in this report is to recommend certain modifications for improving the performance of your engine.

Nominalization

• Verb formations

• It has become necessary to automate the factory.

• Noun formations

• Automation of the factory has become a necessity.

Nominalization

• Verb formations

• During the entire process in which the product is designed, we should think about how it can be produced.

• Noun formations

• Throughout the product design process, thought should be given to the produceability.

Readability:general principles

• Establish your topic

• Use key words prominently

• Explain important concepts when writing for non-specialist readers

• Use standard terminology when writing for specialist reader

• Structure your text

Report writing

• (setting the problem in the context, have you made it relevant enough?)

• (which aspects of the problem you will focus on? reasons for this)

• (are your suggestions well described, the procedures clear, the focus sustained, information relevant?)

• (reflection on adequacy of solutions proposed)

Theses/journal articles

• Abstract

• (account of the work done)