Technical Communication/Technical Writing

What is the difference between technical communication and technical writing?

According to the course text, technical communication “conveys information that serves the needs of various people in various settings”, this type of communication may be used to “complete a task, answer a question, solve a problem, or make a decision” (Lannon, 2008, pg. 2).  Technical writing accompanies technical communication as more of a subset of the latter; it is a process of translation as “You start with a complicated piece of technology, and your mission is to explain to a non-expert how to use that technology” (Garret, 2002, p. 5).  In laymen’s terms, technical writers “deliver “understandable language” for instructions, manuals, and catalogs” while technical communicators focus on all facets of the user experience, from updating manuals, to developing videos and podcasts, as well as traditional print materials (“What’s the difference”).

How would you define each of these terms?

Though these terms fall under the same umbrella, their definitions are fairly distinct.  Technical writing has a narrow, specific focus, while technical communication requires an individual to maintain a skillset that allows them a mastery of all forms of communication, including manuals, traditional print materials, videos, podcasts, and multimedia communications, among others (“What’s the difference”).  Though technical writing serves a distinct and important purpose, by definition its scope is limited as its main focus is to update basic materials such as instructions, manuals and catalogs with “understandable language” (“What’s the difference”).  Conversely, the definition of technical communication asserts that those in the workplace be consumers and producers of technical communication as any document or presentation prepared must advance and clarify “the goals of our readers, viewers, or listeners”; in short technical communication demands a comprehensive knowledge of varying forms of communication, not simply print instructions (Lannon, 2008, pg. 2).

Technical Communication and Technical Writing defined.

Though I haven’t until this point assigned a name to the various communications I participate in or study on a daily basis in the professional environment of my workplace, I realize now that I embraced technical communication fully long ago.  In my current position, I must create and vet SOP’s and technical processes as well as read and understand distributed electronic and print communication clarifying updates to professional procedure.  My personal definitions for technical writing and communication don’t stray far from those found in the text, but they are as follows.  Technical writing is the communication process that involves a factual recitation of instruction or processes in a written print or electronic format.  Similarly, technical communication involves a dictation of instructional fact, but conversely, is disseminated through a multitude of formats such as print media, online formats, audio formats and podcasts, and others, and is constantly updated and easily accessible. 

Garret, H. R. (2002). Technical writing 101: A real-world guide to planning and writing documentation. Technical Communication, 49(2), 247-249. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220961472?accountid=32521

Lannon, J. M. (2008) Technical Communication 11^th Edition Ashford Custom. New York: Pearson Longman   

What’s the difference between technical communicator and technical writer?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://archive.stc.org/story/tc_tw.asp