If you’re looking for tips on the best books on technical writing, look no further. Here, we’ve covered the 13 best technical writing books of all time. See if we’ve missed anything and comment below with your suggestions.
technical communication | mike markel
author’s twitter: https://twitter.com/mikemarkel editor: bedford/st. martin’s, 12th edition publication date: October 14, 2017 pages: 768 pages
You are reading: Best technical writing books
This is one of the most widely used textbooks in an academic setting. Using student-friendly language and accessible visual design, Markel shows how the different types of technical documentation work and where to use each. excellent, up-to-date examples demonstrate effective techniques and offer opportunities for deeper analysis, while interactive examples strive to engage students in real-world scenarios. Whatever format or type of technical communication you’re going to employ in your work, you can be sure it’s covered in this book. Complainers almost always referred to the physical condition of the book they received from amazon, which is not the issue with the writing itself, but is something you should be aware of nonetheless.
the basics of technical communication | elizabeth tebeaux, sam dragga
publisher: oxford university press, 4th edition publication date: December 15, 2017 pages: 432 pages
The Fundamentals of Technical Communication is another highly recommended and widely used textbook, referred to by American academia as pedagogically effective with a good mix of theory and practical examples applicable to today’s business environment. The book contains a wealth of documents and real-world scenarios to help you understand the essentials of technical communications and delve deeper into the world of technical documentation. There are numerous case studies that contextualize documents and provide a vast number of examples of early early drafts and completed full documents. quick tips, guidelines, checklists, exercises, appendices, chapter summaries, self-assessments, etc. all summarize important information that should not be overlooked, but should be reiterated and repeated throughout the semester of study. In addition to writing, the book is about document design and how it should be approached for the benefit of an end reader or end user.
technical writing 101 | Alan S. pringle, sarah s. o’keefe
author’s twitter: https://twitter.com/alanpringle publisher: scriptorium publishing services, inc; 3rd edition publication date: May 1, 2009 pages: 330 pages
another classic textbook covering both print and online content, covering all of development, process planning, writing, visual design, editing, indexing, and producing technical documentation. there will be tips on how to write simple and clear technical texts that could be easily translated into many other languages. The third edition also includes information on the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) standard for structured authoring, as well as much information on the use of new technologies available and the impact they have on technical communication.
technical writing process | Kieran Morgan & sanja spajic
publisher: best in paper publications, 1st edition publication date: March 3, 2015 pages: 260 pages
the technical writing process is a nice little manual that covers the basics of technical communication and the technical writing process. is a fantastic guide for non-technical or beginning professional writers. The book is based on a five-step process that can be used to create any type of technical documentation, from user guides to how-tos: planning, structuring your document, writing, revising, and publishing. The appendix at the end of the book is packed with helpful document templates you’ll encounter during your career as a technical writer. reviewers were pleased to note that they felt the book was very helpful and sensible in managing writing projects. however, those who were unimpressed said it was more for managers than engineers, and felt that most of it was really going around the bush. so if you’re already a technical writer or senior engineer, you might be better off looking for another book.
the insider’s guide to technical writing | krista van laan
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publisher: press xml; 1 edition publication date: May 15, 2012 pages: 346 pages
again, if you’re just starting out or would like to venture into this field, then this book might be what you’ve been looking for. The book covers questions such as what it really takes to be a technical writer, what skills and tools do you need to get started, how to manage different development processes, how to create different types of documentation (from style guides to user manuals and indexes), how to handle the ups and downs of being a technical writer, where else to look for information to advance your career.
managing your documentation projects | joann t. hacks
publisher: wiley; 1 edition publication date: March 23, 1994 pages: 656 pages
this is a classic textbook from a while ago, the 90’s. however, it has been and still is widely praised by many. This is perhaps the only book dedicated to managing technical publishing projects with proven strategies and techniques for producing high-quality, usable documentation. The book is written by an experienced project management and documentation design consultant with a proven track record at corporations such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard. Therefore, with this book, he obtains clear rational guidelines for managing each phase of the project, from planning and development to production and project evaluation. The book contains dozens of templates, checklists, summaries, and forms, dozens of real-life case studies, scenarios, and techniques for virtually every type of technical communication out there. while most reviewers found the book to be an excellent resource on project management and collaborative documentation project management, others thought it could be much shorter and a bit more structured.
technical writing: a practical guide for engineers and scientists | phillip a. plant
publisher: crc press; 2nd edition publication date: July 27, 2018 pages: 300 pages
dr. Phil Laplante, the book’s author, is a professor of systems and software engineering at Pennsylvania State University. he is a member of ieee and spie and has won international awards for his teaching, research and service. Additionally, since 2010, he has led the effort to develop a national licensing exam for software engineers. dr Phil Laplante has published more than 33 books and 250 scholarly articles. this is just another of many masterpieces by him. This guide complements traditional technical writing manuals through first-hand examples that help writers understand the practical considerations behind technical communication. the second edition contains new material with additional examples, tips, tricks, and non-trivial solutions to common problems. Additionally, there is some focus on non-technical people working in the tech world, including those whose native language is not English. Overall, the book is peppered with personal stories, vignettes, and anecdotes that make reading this book a purely pleasurable experience.
trees, maps and theorems | by jean-luc doumont
editor: principles
jean luc doumont is an engineer from the engineering school of leuven and has a doctorate. in applied physics from Stanford University; he also teaches engineers, scientists and businessmen the principles of effective communication. with his rational background, jean luc doumont approaches technical communication in a very interesting way, similar to that of engineering. this book is the exact confirmation that he is a true master of the written word: it contains many entertaining pictures and written examples that help students to understand well the principles discussed.
the book consists of five parts: fundamentals of technical communication, then the basics of written documentation followed by oral presentations and public speaking, graphic presentations and design, and finally, the application of all the ideas discussed to specific types of communication. documents. The fundamentals mainly cover the basic universal principles of effective communication. the part on written documentation discusses the methodology in five steps from scratch to a complete document. Effective oral presentations go through the entire process of building a speech, from planning to delivering presentations to answering questions. the design part covers the planning, design and construction of optimal graphics for written documentation. and the final part on applications shows how the guidelines from the previous parts apply to five common types of documents, namely instruction sets, email, websites, meeting reports, and scientific posters.
developing quality technical information | Michelle Carey, Moira McFadden Lanyi, Deirdre Longo, et. al.
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publisher: ibm press; 3rd edition publication date: June 23, 2014 pages: 595 pages
The list of authors involved in the writing of this book is truly remarkable: they are all longstanding and respected members of the information development community at IBM. Recognized as the number one guide to technical communication excellence, this book covers the product interface and other technical information. the authors advocate structuring the entire development process around users and reflecting that focus in all types of technical communication. the book teaches how to deliver information in an orderly manner by following progressive disclosure techniques, optimize content so users can find it anywhere, streamline information for mobile delivery, and most importantly, help users understand what what you have written or what your team has developed. . the book suits both new and mid-career technical writers. many reviewers called it “the best in technical communication.”
kaplan technical writing: a complete resource for technical writers of all levels | By Carrie Hannigan, Carrie Wells, Carolyn Stevenson, et. al.
publisher: kaplan publication; 2nd edition publication date: December 7, 2010 pages: 672 pages
this is the kaplan textbook for technical writers prepared by the instructors of kaplan university. The manual includes detailed and complete information on how to plan, organize, write and design technical material. Kaplan’s Technical Writing Textbook may become your go-to destination for writing tips and a perfect desktop reference for professionals and novices alike. The book covers the entire white paper preparation process from planning to submission, as well as the intricacies of preparing different types of white papers, including writing for a digital environment.
technical writing manual | by Gerald J. Alred, Walter E. Oliu, Charles T. brusier
publisher: bedford/st. Martin; 12th edition publication date: October 5, 2018 pages: 640 pages
looks like the most up-to-date manual on technical writing. the manual was updated last year to incorporate all the relevant improvements and advances in technical communication from blogs and forums to reports and formal manuals. there are hundreds of topic entries, over ninety sample documents, at-a-glance checklists, and clear, explicit models on how to communicate effectively through the spoken and written word. In addition, the book has excellent speeches and valuable recommendations on job search, social networks and source documentation.
read me first! a style guide for the computer industry | sun technical publications
author’s twitter: https://twitter.com/realgenekim editor: prentice hall; 3rd edition publication date: December 17, 2009 pages: 464 pages
Read Me First is a definitive reference for technical writers, editors, and documentation managers. the updated version, the third edition, touches on topics such as creating screencasts and using screencast terminology, website references, and writing for wikis. Though the book hasn’t been updated since 2009, it’s still an award-winning guide to creating clear, consistent, and easy-to-use documentation that covers everything from grammar to writing style and even typography, design, and the law. Authors, Senior Technical Writers, and Editors at Sun Microsystems share the tips, techniques, and advice they’ve gained from years of working as technical writers and editors, writing hundreds of pages of technical papers, and hiring technical staff.
microsoft style guide
The Microsoft Writing Style Guide replaces the Microsoft Manual of Style, which has been around for the last 20 years. the updated version covers some updated instructions and guidance for topics that did not exist when the last edition was published. additional material that has been added includes tips for mastering style and voice, new terms revolving around accessibility, cloud computing, bits and bytes, and more, as well as discussions of important topics around chatbots, agents virtual, content planning and responsiveness. content.
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