RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

Subject: RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken
From: "Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 08:36:51 -0400



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lauren [mailto:lauren -at- writeco -dot- net]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 2:46 AM
> To: 'Bonnie Granat'; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken
>
> > From: Bonnie Granat
>
> > Lauren seems to view technical writing as writing about technology
> > only;
>
> Where did you get this impression? My view is that technical
> writing is not related to technology but to the documentation
> of functions, specifications, procedures, and other
> technical, or specialized, aspects of the subject-matter.

So what, other than technology, has functions, specifications, procedures,
and other
technical, or specialized functions?

I
> am not certain how you came to the conclusion that I think
> technical writing is limited to technology. I have never
> held the view that technical writing was limited to technology.
>

Your definition above.

> > others see technical writing in the traditional way as being the
> > umbrella under which all specialized writing occurs.
>
> Technical writing is specialized writing, hence the name "technical."
> Business writing is non-technical, as in general, writing for
> business, such as analytical, marketing, and research writing.
>

In the classical view, business writing is technical writing because of the
content, which is specialized.


> If all specialized writing is technical writing, then what do
> you call general writing for business? General business
> writing or writing that covers a broad, rather than specific
> area cannot be both specialized
> (specific) and general (broad), however, both types of
> writing exist in business.
>

Business writing is technical writing in the classical view. If one were
narrowing down the type of technical writing one performed, one would say
"business writing" but one would be a technical writer.


> Also, I certainly do not think that specialized writing
> implies that writing is technical writing because the author
> specializes in professional writing.

I'm not saying that -- I'm saying the content itself determines what is
technical writing and what is not.

> I think that technical writing is specialized because the
> writing is focused on a specialized subject. There is
> business writing that is not focused on a specialized subject
> but is more general, like financial summaries that really do
> not get into specifics but present a broad financial view of
> a company. How can this type of writing be non-specialized,
> but still be called technical?
>

You don't think that writing about financial matters requires an
understanding of the subject of finance, or that writing about business
requires an understanding of business principles?


Bonnie Granat
http://www.GranatEdit.com


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RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken: From: Bonnie Granat

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