Business Writing & Technical Writing
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What is the difference between technical writing, business writing, and professional writing?
Ever since I entered my Ph.D. program at Texas Tech I have struggled with the answer to that question. Sometimes you see people use the terms interchangeably and sometimes you see people draw hard lines and build big heavily-defended walls to separate the two (with any attempt to cross the border considered an act of war).
Many people see business writing as the type of writing you do in the business world, professional writing as people who write for a living (say like journalists or copyeditors and not to be confused with just plain writers which is the typical name given to those who write novels), and technical writers as people who translate science and technology into human language the rest of us can understand. Sure it sounds simple until you start actually studying all the different kinds of communication that takes place today and look at all the different people who are writing. One thing that the we can say about living in the communication age is that it has certainly empowered all sorts of people to become writers who could not have done so just a few decades ago -- and today those people have a wealth of tools and venues to share their work.
So where do we draw the line? Can you see how it can become a bit of a conundrum?
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Is this a conundrum?
Is this a conundrum?
Yup, it's a real puzzler
GypsyWhim says:
At my college, we have two degree-seeking programs: Writing with a Creative Emphasis and Writing with a Professional Emphasis. Ironically, the professional writing track includes more web-based writing and even some web-design. For the most part, if you really want to get into editing or writing technical documents, you have to skip on over to the journalism, communications, or advertising degree programs. You'd think that with a highly specialized degree program, majoring in the very art of professional writing, that one would receive the most comprehensive coursework possible. Frustrating, I tell ya!
rgasperson says:
Isn't Technical and Business Writing Considered Professional Writing?
TheWhistler says:
I think there is a difference, but what is that difference.
Nope, simply a game of semantics
BuddyBink says:
A clear definition of each type of writing clears up the conundrum. Getting people to use the proper terminology when talking about writing is the difficult part.
blackspanielgallery says:
In my field we simply say it with equations and that is universal.
I prefer technical communication
I think writing is still an essential part of the job description but today (even on a easy-to-use publisher like Squidoo) writing is only one part of the job. We are also in charge of researching, editing, designing, and publishing as well as marketing. I think communication is much more encompassing.
As for the first part of the descriptor. I explain my differentiation between technical, business and professional below.
What is Technical Communication?
A definition of technical communication which is a work in progress
When I tell people I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric -- there is often a pause and then they ask "What is Technical Communication?". This is my definition -- still a work in progress -- but perhaps will answer the question for those inquiring minds.
In today's information age, technical communication may well be essential to success in all areas of life. While technical communication has long been linked with professional communication, today a broader and more inclusive definition is necessary to encompass the wide range of technical communication work possible. Technical communication is how the work of life gets done. This begins clearly with workplace and professional writing as well as work to support and use technology but also encompasses knowledge work that takes place in government, community, and private lives.
Read the rest of my definition here
Which term do you prefer to use?
What confuses the issue
In my opinion
We know (from decades of research in the fields of writing studies, education, and psychology) that writing is a complex and complicated activity that creates a number of demands on the writer. What makes it REALLY challenging is that writing is heavily influenced by context. That context or discourse community in turn influences the shape of the genre.
This means that something as simple as a memo is not really simple at all as each particular discourse community has unique rules and requirements and expectations for its genres and while sometimes these genres may appear similar across discourse communities at other times they are so different it is difficult to believe they share the same name.
Learn more about...
The Essentials of Technical Communication
This brief text incorporates a wealth of real-world documents and scenarios to help you understand key communication principles (Chapters 1-6) and then apply those principles to the most common types of professional documents, including e-mails, letters, memos, technical reports, proposals, progress reports, instructions, websites, and oral presentations (Chapters 7-12).
The Essentials of Technical Communication
Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
Central Works in Technical Communication
Central Works in Technical Communication
Amazon Price: $23.54 (as of 05/30/2012)
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BuddyBink
Dec 24, 2011 @ 1:03 pm | delete
- This lens gives a better understanding of technical communication and its place in, especially, the business community. Thanks
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WordCustard
Nov 23, 2011 @ 4:45 am | delete
- This is an interesting look at technical communication. Best of luck with the PhD.
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sukkran May 23, 2011 @ 2:06 pm | delete
- now i understand. thanks for the definition.
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Jerrad28
May 12, 2011 @ 4:18 pm | delete
- Very interesting and insightful thoughts... I definitely agree that there is no "one-size-fits-all" writing style. People need to be more open about the variety of writing styles and other people's preferences
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LisaAuch
May 2, 2011 @ 3:00 am | delete
- Always a pleasure to come over and read your thoughts, although I had already been here, I always learn something new each time I visit!
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