Technical Communication and Advanced Grammar Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, technical document types, writing principles, spelling patterns, capitalization rules, and subject-verb agreement guidelines.

Technical Communication

The creation and dissemination of information about technical subjects in a clear, concise, and effective manner across various documentation forms.

Technical Writer

A professional who creates written content designed to communicate technical or highly specialized topics across industries such as finance, engineering, and manufacturing.

Technical Writing (Mills and Walter, 1981)

Writing about scientific and technical subjects characterized by formal elements, objectivity, impartiality, accurate and concise presentation, and specialized complex writing techniques.

Business Letter

A formal type of written communication that follows formal elements of letter writing used to communicate with companies, organizations, or individuals for job applications, requests, or appointments.

Contract

A formal, legally binding agreement between two or more parties outlining the terms and conditions of a specific arrangement or project.

Monograph

A detailed, comprehensive document focusing on a specific subject or aspect of a technical field, typically longer than an article but shorter than a book.

Printed Action Memo

A ready-format memorandum requiring only a checkmark in the appropriate box to convey messages quickly for fast decision-making.

Graphic Aids

Visual elements that complement written text by presenting data, concepts, or processes in a visual format to simplify complex information.

Instructional Materials

Written manuals designed to guide readers on how to assemble, maintain, and operate an apparatus, machine, or gadget.

Brochure

A pamphlet or flyer that endorses a product to convince potential customers of its effectiveness and prompt them to avail of it.

Proposal

Written suggestions explaining how to make a company or organization more productive and successful, often required before reaching an agreement.

Memoranda

Inter-office written communications used within an organization to disseminate information.

Clarity

A technical writing principle focused on being clear and concise while explicitly defining necessary terms.

Accuracy

A technical writing principle ensuring absolute correctness by using reliable sources.

Audience Awareness

A technical writing principle requiring the writer to understand the audience and provide appropriate context.

Creative Writing

Writing characterized by imaginative or symbolic content, informal style, subjective tone, arbitrary organization, and a general audience, aimed at entertaining or captivating.

I Before E Rule

A standard spelling guideline stating 'I before E, except after C' (e.g., believe, receive), which features notable exceptions such as weird, foreign, science, and height.

CVC Doubling Pattern

The spelling rule where a one-syllable word ending in Consonant-Vowel-Consonant doubles its final consonant when adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (e.g., run -> running).

Silent E Rule

The spelling convention where a final silent e is dropped when adding a vowel suffix (e.g., write -> writing) but kept when adding a consonant suffix (e.g., care -> careful).

Consonant + Y Spelling Rule

The rule specifying that words ending in a consonant followed by y change the y to i before most suffixes, except before -ing where the y is kept.

Capitalization

The use of uppercase letters to mark sentence beginnings, proper nouns and adjectives, titles, initialisms, and major outline headings.

Colon (:)

A punctuation mark that connects a complete thought to a related detail by introducing an explanation, list, or direct quote.

Semicolon (;)

A punctuation mark that links two separate, independent complete sentences when their underlying ideas are closely tied.

Run-in List

A list format presented horizontally within standard sentence text using inline numbers or letters, such as (1), (2), and (3).

Blocked List

A vertical list layout formatted line-by-line using bullet points or numbered lists.

Subject-Verb Concord

The grammatical agreement requirement where the subject and verb in a sentence match in number (singular or plural).

Proximity Rule

The subject-verb agreement principle for subjects joined by 'either…or' or 'neither…nor', where the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.

Collective Nouns

Nouns representing groups (e.g., family, jury, audience, committee) that take singular or plural verbs based on context, but are typically treated as singular units.

Non-count Nouns

Uncountable nouns (such as education, diabetes, information, and research) that always require a singular verb.

A Number of vs. The Number of

A grammatical rule where 'a number of' acts as a plural subject taking a plural verb, whereas 'the number of' acts as a singular subject taking a singular verb.

Subjunctive 'Were'

The use of the verb form 'were' instead of 'was' in sentences expressing a wish, request, or condition contrary to fact.