Technical writing is the art, craft, practice, or problem of translating that which is logical into that which is grammatical. Technical writing forms a bridge between the logical (the primarily binary concepts understood by computers, robots, lawyers) and the illogical (the haphazard, inconsistent concepts misunderstood carbon-based life forms, highly intelligent computers, lawyers) via the medium of the grammatical, the haphazardly logical system incomprehensible to both. The practice of technical writing presupposes that you, the illogical, actually want to learn about the logical subject, which of course is in all cases false. This basis in a false presupposition makes technical writing a pursuit typically favoured by those with arts degrees from obscure universities.
Posted on by Robert Chapman

What do I want to be when I grow up?

Technical background

Did I mention I was originally an electrical engineering major in college?

Did I mention I was an official tutor for the second semester Keller-plan phyics classes in college?

Did I mention my 25 semester hours in mathematics?

Did I mention that I’ve been a technical communicator for over 30 years?

When engineers and other technical experts start describing something, I can usually follow along. I know when to ask questions. I know when I need to clarify what I think I heard. Having technical coursework and years of experience helps me to translate engineering to English.

I still don’t like thermodynamics, though. I may be a nerd, but I am not a mechanical engineer.

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