Technical Writing vs General Writing: What Sets Them Apart?

Since there are different types of writing, each of them includes a unique style. Among these, general writing and technical writing are two commonly used styles, each with its own tone, structure, and intent. General writing typically includes creative, journalistic, or informal content meant to inform, entertain, or persuade a broad audience.

On the other hand, technical writing focuses on delivering clear, concise, and factual information, often related to technology, processes, or instructions.

The technical writing industry is growing rapidly due to the development of new technologies. According to statistics by the US Bureau of Labor, the job prospects for technical writers will increase by 7% by 2032 across the globe.

Now, what is technical writing vs general writing? Read this blog to understand how technical writing is different from general writing, following examples.

Overview of Technical vs General Writing Differences

General writing consists of highlighting general aspects of writing, while technical writing takes a clear, structured approach to explain technical or complex information. Having proper knowledge of technical writing and general writing allows you to choose different content writing topics.

Before we jump into the basic understanding of both of them, let us look at the overview of technical writing vs general writing comparison:

Aspect	Technical Writing	General Writing
Purpose	Provides only information	Amuse readers by providing different perspectives
Formatting	Standard	Unstructured
Tone	Objective	Subjective
Point of View	3rd person	1st person
Style	Formal	Informal
Audience	Particular and specific	Diverse
Vocabulary	Specialized; Use of technicalities	Expressive; Avoid using jargon

It is important to note that a thorough content review process is essential in both types of writing to make sure they are accurate for creating engagement.

What is General Writing?

General writing consists of writing on topics focusing on general subjects or creating amusement for readers. It also includes a personal style and subjective tone, which helps target readers of all categories.

One common example of general writing is a travelogue, which allows readers to explore a destination through the writer’s perspective. It provides entertainment and enjoyment for the audience. This type of writing balances both formal and informal tones to engage readers effectively.

What is Technical Writing?

Understanding technical writing not only helps you understand how to write a technical blog but also helps readers understand technical concepts in an easy manner.

This form of writing helps both writers and readers break down complicated concepts into simple, actionable insights. The goal is to communicate how a product, service, or system works, often to solve product-related issues or guide users through a process.

Technical Writing vs General Writing: Crucial Aspects Distinguishing Them

Understanding technical writing vs general writing helps you to use the appropriate tone, language, and style of writing for different types of content. Here are some crucial aspects that distinguish technical writing from general writing:

1. Purpose

The purpose of writing technical content is only to inform readers about technical concepts. On the other hand, general writing includes different purposes like informing, entertaining, and amusing readers with a topic.

However, the usage of primary keywords and secondary keywords in both technical and general writing is the same.

2. Content

The content in technical writing always includes factual and straightforward topics. These often provide information, product descriptions, and usage explanations that address readers’ pain points.

Contrarily, general writing prioritises explaining general subjects by using emotions and storytelling. This common technical writing vs general writing example helps you to understand how content type sets them apart.

If technical writing is about a step-by-step procedure of changing the font in a smartphone, then general writing focuses on informing the benefits of using a smartphone.  

3. Style

Using an objective tone, technical writing maintains a particular format to make the concepts clear and concise for readers.

General writing considers a personal style in explaining topics with an artistic and unstructured format. This type of writing puts more emphasis on creativity and expression. 

4. Audience

Audiences of technical writing are readers who need information on technical concepts and instructions to perform certain tasks.

On the other hand, general writers focus on a broader audience that is interested in different topics, perspectives, and subjects.

5. Point of View and Language

In technical writing, the third-person point of view is typically used to maintain an objective and professional tone. It often includes industry-specific terminology and technical jargon to accurately convey complex information to the intended audience.

However, you must use first-person POV in general writing. To keep readers engaged and entertained with the content, general writing does not include any technical vocabulary or jargon.

Takeaway

The comparison of technical writing vs general writing highlights that technical writing focuses on providing information on technical concepts with a structured format and an objective tone.

On the other hand, general writing not only informs readers but also highlights different perspectives, creates amusement, and entertains readers about a topic.If you are looking for expertly crafted technical content tailored to your needs, our technical writing services deliver high-quality, SEO-optimised content designed to engage your audience and meet your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions on Technical Writing vs General Writing