Technical Communication & Writing

Technical communication and technical writing seem to be one of the same for many; however, technical writing and technical communication differ from one another in many aspects.  Technical communication can simply be communication between office staff and employees in a company.  This can be any type of company where written communication happens between employees.  Technical writing differs in that it is more specific about who the audience may be intended for.  For instance, technical writing will occur between doctors when communicating about a mutual patient as shown in our text Technical Communication, in figure 3.3 (Lannon, 2008, p. 29). 

Technical communication is useful information that is conveyed to a diverse audience for many different purposes.  These purposes range from work documents, such as written communications to product manuals for the general populous.  Technical writing is a component of technical communication.  Technical writing is the writing done for the purpose of creating easy to access information for the purpose of operating or using many differing types of products, or even for the understanding of  research between peers.  Technical writing is also used to create inter-office documents that peer and other co-workers understand without having to use laymen terms. 

Technical communication and technical writing are used together as well as separately.  They seem to work together, yet they clearly work on their own as well.  Technical communication happens at many levels with communication within offices, hospitals and other organizations through daily work routines.  Technical writing happens at different degrees with varying complexity depending upon the audience.  Both communication tools are essential and commonplace in the workplace and other genres. 

Reference

Lannon, J. M. (2008). Technical Communication (11^th ed.). New York: Pearson.