Comprehensive Technical Writing Study Reviewer

Vocabulary flashcards covering core technical writing principles, mechanics, visual aids, definitions, correspondence, and report types.

Technical Writing

Specialized, practical writing found in science, technology, engineering, and business whose primary objective is to transmit factual information efficiently to enable clear decision-making.

Self-Sufficiency

A quality of effective technical writing where the reader can fully understand the report without needing to recall previous information or consult external files.

Restraint

A quality of technical writing that avoids exaggerated, dramatic, or emotional vocabulary in favor of objective, factual phrasing.

Facility

The ease with which a technical report can be navigated, achieved through proper pacing, sequence (simple to complex), arrangement, and continuity.

Principle of Reader Adaptation

The guideline requiring a writer to assume readers are intelligent but uninformed about the specific topic, and to adapt content to the reader with the lowest level of technical understanding when writing for multiple audiences.

Natural Sentence Order

A structural sentence pattern where the subject is directly followed by the predicate ($S \rightarrow V$).

Active Voice

A sentence construction that emphasizes the performer of the action, producing more direct, concise, and vivid prose.

Passive Voice

A sentence construction that emphasizes the recipient of the action or the action itself, obscuring or omitting the performer.

Indicative Mood

The grammatical mood used in technical writing to describe how a process or operation functions generally.

Imperative Mood

The grammatical mood employing direct commands, used specifically for writing step-by-step instructions.

Statement of Purpose

A formal statement that declares what a technical document or report intends to do or investigate.

Thesis Statement

A declarative statement formulated from conclusions that asserts a definite point, argument, or finding that the document must substantiate.

Rule of 10

A technical writing convention requiring numbers below $10$ to be spelled out in words and numerals to be used for figures of $10$ and above (unless preceding a unit of measurement).

Formal Sentence Definition

A three-part definition structured according to the formula: $\text{Species (Term)} = \text{Genus (Class)} + \text{Differentia (Distinguishing Traits)}$.

Informal Definition

A definition technique that substitutes an unfamiliar technical term with a familiar, recognizable word or phrase.

Circular Definition

A defective definition error where the term being defined is explained using derivatives or variations of the same word.

Single-Instance Definition

A defective definition error caused by using 'is when' or 'is where' instead of identifying an appropriate genus or class.

Inadequate Differentia

A defective definition flaw where the distinguishing characteristics provided are too broad, leading to improper classification.

Formal Table

A visual aid that presents exact numerical values across categories, containing components such as the Stub Head, Spanner Head, Column Heads, Stub (left column), and Field Body.

Line Graph

A visual aid used to illustrate trends or continuous data changes over time, where the horizontal axis ($X$) represents time and the vertical axis ($Y$) represents the unit of measure starting at $0$.

Bar Chart

A visual aid used to compare discrete, discontinuous items across dimensions, categorized as simple, multiple (maximum $3\text{--}4$ dimensions), subdivided, or bilateral.

Pie Chart

A visual aid that dramatizes the percentage breakdown of a whole ($100\%$), where the largest or main segment begins at the 12 o'clock position and subsequent parts proceed clockwise by emphasis.

Flowchart (Flow Sheet)

A diagrammatic visual aid that displays the sequential steps of a process using standardized symbols connected by directional workflow arrows.

Organizational Chart

A visual aid illustrating administrative hierarchy and institutional reporting lines downward from top executives.

Description of a Mechanism

A technical description of a static physical object, structured into an introduction (definition, purpose, appearance, division of parts), detailed part descriptions, and an operating cycle conclusion.

Description of a Process

A technical description focusing on a dynamic action sequence, divided into 'How-to-do-it' (operator instructions) or 'How-it-is-done' (informative explanations).

Classification

The orderly grouping of multiple plural items based on a single governing principle into mutually exclusive categories.

Partition

The mechanical division of a single complex unit into its constituent physical components or structural parts.

Interpretation

The technical art of establishing a meaningful pattern of logical relationships among collected data points to evaluate alternatives against established standards of judgment.

Full Block

A business letter layout style in which every single typographic element is aligned flush with the left margin.

Semi-Block

A business letter format where the dateline, complimentary close, and signature block align right of center, while the body paragraphs are indented.

Modified Block

A business letter format where the dateline, complimentary close, and signature block align right of center, but paragraphs remain flush left without indentation.

Claim Letter

A formal business letter that courteously states what went wrong, specifies the inconvenience suffered, and requests a concrete remedy while appealing to fair play.

Adjustment Letter

A business letter written in response to a claim that acknowledges the issue objectively, offers an equitable remedy, and seeks to restore customer goodwill.

Memorandum (Memo)

An internal organizational document used to communicate policy, report progress, or request action, formatted with a TO/FROM/DATE/SUBJECT header without a salutation or complimentary close.

Progress Report

An informal report tracking work completed during a designated interval on an ongoing project, organized into an introduction, work accomplished to date, and future plans (prophetic conclusion).

Periodic Report

A routine informal report submitted at regular, fixed calendar intervals (daily, weekly, or monthly) for administrative record-keeping.

Recommendation Report

A report that systematically evaluates operational alternatives against defined criteria to recommend a specific practical course of action.

Letter of Transmittal

A formal personal communication prefacing a formal report that delivers the document to the client, acknowledges contributors, and summarizes major findings.

Solicited Proposal

A proposal submitted directly in response to an official client invitation or Request for Proposals (RFP).

Unsolicited Proposal

A proposal initiated by the writer that must first persuade the recipient that an unaddressed problem exists before presenting a proposed solution.