Technical writing is all about clarity and accuracy. It aims to communicate complex ideas or concepts in a clear and concise manner, which can be easily understood by the target audience. The use of plain language is key to achieving this objective.
Plain language writing is a style that employs simple and direct words, sentence structures, and formatting to convey information clearly and effectively. It eliminates jargons, technical terms, acronyms, and other complicated terminology that might confuse the reader.
Using plain language in technical writing has many benefits. It increases the readability of the document, promotes comprehension, and encourages audience engagement. Here are some of the reasons why technical writers should consider using plain language.
Improved Clarity
The main objective of technical writing is to convey information easily and effectively. Using simple words, clear sentences, and a logical structure can help technical writers achieve this objective. Plain language makes it easier for readers to understand complex ideas and concepts, as they do not have to spend their time figuring out what technical terms mean. This saves time and makes the document much more efficient.
Increased Accessibility
Technical writing is not only read by technical experts, but also by a wide range of people with different skills, knowledge, and language abilities. Using plain language makes technical documents more accessible to a wider audience. This means that people who are not familiar with technical jargon can still comprehend the information being presented. This makes the document more inclusive and can help prevent misunderstandings.
Reduced Complexity
The use of jargon and technical terminology can often make documents unnecessarily complicated. In some cases, it can also make the document sound pompous and out of touch with the audience. Using plain language reduces the complexity of the document and makes it more approachable. This helps the document achieve its objective of communicating useful information without adding unnecessary complication.
Improved Legibility
Plain language formatting also helps improve the legibility of technical documents. Technical documents often contain long paragraphs and dense blocks of text, which can be challenging to read. Breaking the text into smaller chunks, using bullet points, and incorporating images can help increase the document’s readability. This can help the audience stay focused while reading the document.
Building Trust
The use of plain language in technical writing helps build trust between the reader and the writer. It communicates a sense of honesty, transparency, and simplicity. It reassures the reader that the writer is not hiding anything and is presenting information in a clear and unbiased manner.
In conclusion, using plain language in technical writing is essential. It improves clarity, accessibility, reduces complexity, improves the legibility of documents, and builds trust between the readers and the writers. Technical writers need to remember that their audience may not be well-versed in technical jargon and terminology, so the use of plain language is crucial to ensure that the document is understood by all audiences.
