What Are Some Examples of Technical Writing?

By Ugur Akinci

My readers and students occasionally ask me what type of documents they would be expected to write as technical writers. I’d like to give you a representative list of the many different types of documents that you might be expected to write once you get a job as a technical writer.

Obviously, you would not be expected to write all of the following documents in the list.

Sometimes specializing in just one or two types of documents would be enough to build a lucrative career as a technical communicator.

I for example have built my career mostly on writing using guides.

Others, you keep adding to your portfolio as you keep learning on the job, depending on the needs of your employer or clients.

So here are some examples of technical documents that you might be expected to write as a technical writer:

  • User guides
  • Installation Guides
  • Specification Guides/Sheets
  • API Guides
  • Quick Start Guides
  • Release Notes
  • Testing Scenarios
  • Market Requirement Documents
  • Architecture and Engineering (A&E) Documents
  • Manufacturing Outlines
  • PowerPoint Presentations
  • Engineering Change Orders
  • Software Change Orders
  • Development Reports
  • Style Guidelines
  • Documentation Plans
  • Help Files
  • FAQ Files
  • Knowledge Base Articles
  • Technical Magazine Articles
  • Wiki Articles
  • Review Articles
Posted in Technical Writing

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