Difference between Technical Writing and General Writing
Last Updated :
17 Sep, 2020
1. Technical Writing :
Technical writing is a piece of writing which focuses on factual and straight forward content and technical papers are published to inform and instruct and educate the user about some specific topic. There exists specific readers who prefers technical papers. It gives readers information about some technical topics or it gives directions on how to do something.
For example writing any articles on GeeksforGeeks related to computer science field comes under technical writing.
2. General Writing :
General writing refers to any piece of writing which focuses in general subjects of writing and general papers are published for amusement of the reader. But sometimes many general topics also gives life lessons, moral, inspiration etc. There is not such specific set of audience or readers like technical writing. It is written on subjective tone and purely personal style.
For example writing any prose or story which will be published in a local magazine comes under general writing.
Difference between Technical Writing and General Writing :
| S.No. |
TECHNICAL WRITING |
GENERAL WRITING |
| 01. |
Technical writing focuses on factual and straight forward content. |
General writing focuses on general subjects of writing. |
| 02. |
Technical writing aims to impart information, instructions and explanations. |
General writing aims at amusement. |
| 03. |
Technical writing is based on objective tone. |
General writing is based on subjective tone or personal style. |
| 04. |
It follows standard structured format. |
It follows artistic unstructured format. |
| 05. |
It is usually based on a formal way of writing. |
It may be formal or informal way of writing. |
| 06. |
The voice used in technical writing is 3rd person. |
The voice used in general writing is 1st person. |
| 07. |
In technical writing specialized vocabulary is required. |
In General writing evocative vocabulary is required. |
| 08. |
Technical writing has its specific set of audience or readers. |
General writing has no specific set of audience or readers. |
| 09. |
Technical writing is archival. |
General writing is non-archival. |
| 10. |
It is accurate and more precise in manner. |
It is decorative and bombastic in manner. |
| 11. |
Technical writing is related to any specific area or domain. |
General domain is related to any life in general. |
| 12. |
It focuses on more technical words specific to the area. |
It focuses on more common words suitable to the general topic. |
| 13. |
For example writing any articles on GeeksforGeeks related to computer science field comes under technical writing. |
For example writing any prose or story which will be published in a local magazine comes under general writing. |
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