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Isabel Nario

Technical Writing vs. Creative Writing


The difference between technical and creative writing is that in creative writing, its less
academic and more artistic than technical writing. Creative writing can be ambiguous, meaning
different things to different people. It also requires the reader to draw inferences, to make
judgements that the writer does not state. Technical writing should be unambiguous and direct.
The meaning of a sentence in technical writing must be clear.
Book reference: Darlene Smith-Worthington and Sue Jefferson - Technical Writing for Success
The main difference between both of them is that, creative writing is written to enthral, entertain
and arouse a certain felling in a reader, whereas technical writing is to educate the audience with
the factual information and is presented in a logical manner.
Technical writings main purpose is to educate people in a logical way that might cause boredom
for the audience. As in technical writing, the facts are being displayed and most often the
examples placed in it are also rigid that can be felt by the one who reads the whole context and
can deal with the logic inside.
Creative writing is something far beyond the boundary, with aiming to entertain the viewers and
to make them imagine of what the writers are willing to provoke. Here it should also be kept
mentioned that all of the creative writings are to entertain but some along with it also holds some
strong message, or it wont be wrong to say that these writings are done to prove that point.
Key Differences

In creative writing the most of the part is self-created, although the idea might be inspired
but in technical writing the facts are to be obliged and the note is delivered from leading
on what previously other greats have concluded.

Most commonly, the creative writing is for general audience or for masses but technical
writing is for specific audience.

The creative writing entertains people as it has poetry or some illustrations or another
idea, whereas the technical writing causes boredom as it follows the strong pattern based
on facts and is just to transfer the information to the audience.

In technical writing the specialized vocabulary, such like scientific terms and other are
used while in creative writing, one can go with slang or evocative phrases or even
something which can be perceived well by the audience.

Humour, satire might be the useful essences in creative writing but such thoughts or ideas
have no link with the technical writing.

Novel writing, poetry writing, satirical note are some of the types of creative writing,
whereas report analysis, proving formulas are types of technical writing.

A formal education of the technical writer seems necessary whereas, its never a
milestone in between becoming a creative writer.

Internet source:
By: DifferenceBtw.com
About: DifferenceBtw.com is a UK based information portal, which hires leading
academics, subject matter experts, and academic scriptwriters around the world to give its
visitors the best quality resources for their search of knowledge.
Date posted: 9 months ago
Title of article: Difference between Technical Writing and Creative Writing
URL: http://www.differencebtw.com/difference-between-technical-writing-and-creativewriting/

ABCs of Technical Writing


A- Accuracy one must therefore guard against sloppy thinking, careless calculation, and
slipshod expression. Accuracy of a statement depends not only on individual words, but
on the way the sentences are put together, the way paragraphs are developed, and the way
paragraphs are developed.
B- Brevity being brief is a courtesy to the reader. It is also a means of checking the
development of your own ideas and the accuracy of your expression.
C- Confidence when you finish the last page of your report, you are an authority. You
probably know more about the particular subject than anyone else. If you are convinced
that what you are saying is right and wise, say it. If you are not convinced, then go back
to see where the problem lies and how you can rectify it.
D- Dignity dignity is a courtesy to your readers as professional people. You will achieve
simple dignity with straight forward expression, with summarized, simplified and well
organized information.
E- Emphasis you have to tell the reader what is important, and not expect him to find it out
for himself. A straightforward style, plenty of guideposts, and frequent helping hands in
the form of transitions will guide him.
F- Facility report writing depends more on pacing, sequence, arrangement, and
connections to achieve smooth-flowing, easy-to-read continuity.
G- Grammatical Correctness make your writing straightforward, logical, and clear and
check your statements for sound as well as sense. Be sure to follow the basic rules of
grammar.
H- Honesty the use of other peoples information or work must be acknowledged. Honesty
also involves reporting your own failures as well as successes, your own mistakes.
I- Illustration illustrative material, such as charts, graphs, or diagrams, and photos, is
always helpful. For whatever purpose they are used, they should be referred to
somewhere in the text and should bear a caption referring directly to the discussion they
are supporting.
J- Judgement the evidence used as a basis for judgement should be included in the report.
K- Knowledge it involves interpretation and the formation of conclusions. It is necessary
to explain the basis of your work and put it into proper prospective.

L- Logic logic is a process of showing relations among groups of things and classes of
groups. It is a chiefly process of classification, putting things in their proper places.
M- Mechanical Neatness a report should be in perfect shape. It should be neatly typed and
well margined, free from typographical errors, crossings-out, smudges and the like.
N- Normal Procedure conformity to standard practices makes a report easier to understand.
O- Objectivity you must pretend to be someone else and try to get yourself out of the
picture.
P- Planning complete report writing project requires planning. Good planning will be
repaid in time saved and nerves calmed.
Q- Qualification you are required to explain the circumstances surrounding your work
because they might have affected the results you are reporting.
R- Revision in the revision phase, all things are reviewed and polished to perfection. The
process of revision consists of more than merely correcting spelling or punctuation errors.
You must check every statement for sense and relevance.
S- Straight sentences in a good report each paragraph begins with a straightforward
statement of its subject. All sentences proceed straight ahead.
T- Thoroughness treat your subject fully if you want your report to have lasting value.
Thoroughness extends throughout the report writing project. You are therefore obligated
to think through the subject, analyse and investigate it, analyse and organize the results,
present your information, and draw significant conclusions.
U- Unity a unified report is one in which everything is clearly relevant to the main point
under discussion. The effect of a unified report is to make the reader feel satisfied that he
has read all that has had to be said.
V- Viewpoint a report is written from a certain viewpoint. The viewpoint is established
with the first sentence and should be maintained consistently throughout the report.
W- Word Choice avoid pompous, ornate words, and especially vague words. Be as precise
as you can.
XY- You-Point a report is not written to its writer. It is aimed at an audience, and so you
should think in terms of pacing and timing.
Z- Zest write only when you have something worth saying and then write as though you
were performing a service that only you can perform.
Book reference: Paul M. Zall - Elements of Technical Report Writing

ABCD-

Accuracy tactful in the recording of data. A writer must always aim to be understood.
Brevity - enhance understanding on the main purpose of the report, having a brief report.
Confidence - to be decisive or sure of what he is writing about.
Dignity - development the ring authority, this is one of the ethical standards. See to it that
all grammatical constructions must be complete, ideas well organized, simplified,

summarized and expressed in straightforward manner.


E- Emphasis - stressing the major points and subordinating them.
F- Facility - makes report easy to read and understand. It depends on pacing, sequence,
GHIJ-

arrangement, and continuity.


Grammatical Correctness - application of grammatical rules.
Honesty - acknowledge borrowed statement.
Illustration - employ illustration to concretize either thoughts or ideas.
Judgement - quality of the information gathered and collected by considering its

ampleness, relevance, simplicity, and collaboration with the rest of the data.
K- Knowledge - limited for a mere collection of data of information because it involves
analysis, interpretation and formulation of conclusion.
L- Logic - process of showing the relations among groups of things and classes of groups.
M- Mechanical Neatness - appearance of the report, perfect in shape.
N- Normal Procedure - follow acceptable arrangement of the different parts of a report.
O- Objectivity - third person point of view is preferred.
P- Planning - basic step, gives purpose and direction to what he has to write.
Q- Qualification - chose statements that have direct relationship to the topic being discussed.
R- Revisions - more than checking spelling, punctuation marks, spacing and margins, it cater
to the diction, organization of ideas and subject fully treated or not.
S- Straight Sentences - sentences must be limited to only one idea or two closely related
ideas.
T- Thoroughness - writer must treat well his subject matter and objectives are realized.
U- Unity - every idea should have correlation to the main topic.
V- Viewpoint - written from a certain viewpoint of a writer.
W- Word Choice - employ fitted words to the reader's ability and background.

Internet source:
By: Zenna Sibal
Date posted: November 25 2014
Title: ABC'S OF TECHNICAL WRITING
URL: https://prezi.com/w1jju4gr3vzi/abcs-of-technical-writing/

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