Technical Writing, a form of technical communication, is a style of formal writing and business communication, used in fields as diverse as computer hardware and software, chemistry, the aerospace industry, robotics, finance, consumer electronics, and biotechnology. Good technical writing clarifies technical jargon; that is, it presents useful information that is clear and easy to understand for the intended audience.
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Becoming a Technical Writer in Three Easy Steps 
If you are considering a career change, you should become familiar with the potential requirements and compensation. Knowing as much as you can about a profession can help you decide if it is appropriate for you. This book is intended for beginning and would-be technical writers.
Kolunovsky, Nina. STC Toronto (1996). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing
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The Bedford Bibliography for Teachers of Writing
We hope that this online version of The Bedford Bibliography for Teachers of Writing will be an efficient reference tool. In the future, we will be able to update the online version more frequently. Moreover, we will provide direct links when possible between bibliographic entries and online versions of the resources themselves. Note that we include annotated listings for six online journals. To go directly to the World Wide Web page for one of these journals, simply click on the highlighted address (URL) given immediately after its title.
Bizzell, Patricia, Bruce Herzberg and Nedra Reynolds. Bedford-St. Martin's (2003). Resources>Bibliographies>Education>Writing
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The Beginner's Guide to Freelance Writing
You have to stand out from the crowd. You have to sparkle. How do you do this? Simple. It all starts with The Big Idea.
Glatzer, Jenna. Klariti (2005). Careers>Freelance>Writing
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Being Personal isn't About Being Their "Buddy"
I have written often about the value of writing online in a personal voice. In particular, emails and newsletters lend themselves to a genuine, personal tone.
Usborne, Nick. Excess Voice (2004). Articles>Collaboration>Writing>Technical Writing
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The Benefits of Good Technical Documentation
In today's complex global economy, good technical documentation is essential. We have all been frustrated when it is lacking -- when we can't find what we need in an owner's manual, when on-line help is no help at all, when newsletter articles are confusing, when installation instructions are incomplete, or when we can't find what we need on a web site.
Winzig Consulting Services, LLC (1999). Resources>Writing>Technical Writing>Technical Writing
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Benefits of Using a Professional to Write User Documentation
Studies have shown organisations value the following benefits: overall organisation, the sales team, and documentation meets the customer's requirements.
Cherryleaf (2003). Articles>Writing>Professionalism>Documentation
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Best Jobs in America 2006: Technical Writing
Money Magazine and Salary.com rate careers on salary and job prospects. Technical writing comes in as the thirteenth best career in America.
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Betriebsanleitungen für Anlagen 
Der Normenunterausschuss NATG-F des Deutschen Instituts für Normung e.V. ist derzeit damit befasst, Regeln zur Erstellung von Betriebsanleitungen für Anlagen zu erarbeiten.
Doculine (2002). (German) Articles>Documentation>Writing>Technical Writing
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Better Readability for Improving the Number of Site Viewers
Web content readability is an often underestimated aspect for a web site. There are design rules for designers to follow, and there are SEO tips and tricks for SEO experts to use. But this is not all. Though beautiful designs and search engine optimization are extremely important, there are also other issues that a web marketer needs to consider in order to run the site successfully. Readability is one of them.
Stoyanova, Tsvetanka. SEOchat (2005). Articles>Web Design>Writing>Search
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Beware of adverbs. They can dilute the meaning of the verb or repeat it.
Clark, Roy Peter. Poynter Online (2004). Articles>Writing>Diction>Rhetoric
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Beware: Generic Words Can Indeed Be Trademarked
In article by Sabra Chartrand in the New York Times (March 13, 1995), makes it clear that the name of electronic products — books, photos, music, and titles — can be a bone of contention. Did you know that the Microsoft Corporation owns the rights to use the word bookshelf as applied to any CD-ROM product? In 1991, the software giant trademarked the term to cover its collection of reference books, Microsoft Bookshelf.
Editorial Eye, The (2003). Articles>Intellectual Property>Trademark>Writing
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Editing must change for the Web, but perhaps not so much as you think. In paper publishing, different documents require different rules and procedures: An annual report requires more editing and more attention to detail than an office memo. Similarly, not all Web documents are equal.
Ivey, Keith C. Editorial Eye, The (1996). Articles>Web Design>Editing>Writing
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Beyond Internationalization: Multicultural Education in the Professional Writing Contact Zone 
To bridge the gap between composition and professional communication studies, we should add multiculturalism to the widely accepted international perspective in professional communication instruction, thus transforming the classroom into a contact zone (Pratt). The practical necessity of intercultural communication in a global marketplace necessitates internationalization. The international perspective, accounting for the heterogeneity of the technical communication audience, focuses on audience analysis and leads us to encourage students to learn about the multiple, cultural layers of audience. A multicultural perspective, however, can teach students of professional communication about the complex relationship between language and ideology and the underlying forces that shape and reflect the ways we use language. Multiculturalism's critical component provides insights into the structures and ideologies of domination/subordination and provides students with the linguistic, intellectual, and moral tools for resisting fear and prejudices. Likewise, the international perspective in professional communication can inform issues of audience analysis in composition.
Grobman, Laurie. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (1999). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
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Beyond Plagiarism: Ethical Issues in the Technical Communication Classroom
Recent discussions of ethical issues that relate to technical communicators reflect the rise of interest in this topic. Although some journal articles do look at teaching ethics in the technical communication classroom, most concentrate on ethics in the workplace. Yet, for students to understand current and future ethical issues, we must heighten their awareness of potential problems before they encounter such problems in industry and business situations.
Horowitz, Renee B. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Writing>Ethics>Plagiarism
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Beyond the Mechanical: Technical Writing Revisited
Optimism about the future of technical writing can be sustained only if we persist in setting for technical writing the same standards we apply to other sophisticated modes of writing and require refinement in style as well as accuracy in content. The importance of content in technical writing, of the information presented, may seduce us into seeing technical writing as purely a form of language engineering and into teaching our students to perform mechanical writing tasks, churning out dull reports to fit mindlessly into the institutional norms of industry and government.
Iyasere, Marla Mudar. JAC (1988). Articles>Writing>TC>Technical Writing
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Beyondwords is an online space for professional writers to share, create, learn, and explore what it means to be a part of the professional writing community.
beyondwords. Resources>Business Communication>Technical Writing>Blogs
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Insensitive use of language can send discriminatory or negative messages to other people and has been demonstrated to affect learning, self-esteem, and career choices. In a business environment, our interactions with co-workers and our relationship with clients also can be affected. This page provides some general guidelines for using written and spoken language that are diversity-sensitive.
Author's Guide (2000). Reference>Writing>Discrimination
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Bibliography on Assessment Issues in Engineering Communication
A bibliography on engineering communication assessment.
Rice University (1999). Resources>Bibliographies>Engineering>Technical Writing
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Our index of writer's guidelines lets you browse more than 1,500 guidelines, prepared by book and magazine editors themselves. Turn to Writer's Market for a complete rundown of a market's needs, then search here for more of the editor's viewpoint.
Writer's Digest (2002). Resources>Writing>Style Guides
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This study synthesizes Y. Engeström's version of cultural historical activity theory and North American genre systems theory to explore the problem of specialized discourses in activities that involve non-specialists, in this case students in a university 'general education' course in Irish history struggling to write the genres of professional academic history. We trace the textual pathways (genre systems) that mediate between the activity systems (and motives) of specialist teachers and the activity systems (and motives) of non-specialist students. Specifically, we argue that the specialist/lay contradiction in U.S. general education is embedded in historical practices in the modern university, and manifested in alienation that students often experience through the writing requirements in general education courses. This historical contradiction also makes it difficult for instructors to make writing meaningful for non-specialists and go beyond fact-based, rote instruction to mediate higher-order learning through writing. However, our analysis of the Irish History course suggests this alienation may be overcome when students, with the help of their instructors, see the textual pathways (genre systems) of specialist discourse leading to useful knowledge/skill in their activity systems beyond the course as specialists in other fields or as citizens.
Russell, David R. and Arturo Yanez. WAC Clearinghouse (2002). Articles>Writing>Rhetoric
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The Biggest Lies Heard by Technical Writers
This list is the result of a thread started on the Techwr-l listserver group about the biggest lies we, as technical writers, hear on an almost weekly basis.
Documentia (2003). Humor>Writing>Technical Writing
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A large collection of articles, tips and useful information on writing policies and procedures and improving business processes.
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Blackwriters.org is the first literary arts organization to utilize the power of the online medium to educate, inform, support and empower aspiring and published Black writers. The Black Writers Alliance (BWA) is dedicated to providing information, news, resources and support to Black writers while promoting the Internet as a tool for research and fellowship among the cultural writing community.
Black Writers Alliance. Organizations>Writing>Ethnic>Ethnicity
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Blah-Blah Text: Keep, Cut, or Kill?
Introductory text on Web pages is usually too long, so users skip it. But short intros can increase usability by explaining the remaining content's purpose.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2007). Articles>Web Design>Writing>Usability
