TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: The meaning of "technical" From:Ed Gregory <edgregory -at- HOME -dot- NET> Date:Thu, 7 Jan 1999 00:32:31 -0600
The term "technical writer" too often means only that "technically, this
person gets paid for writing."
One of my favorite "flames" was by author Truman Capote. When asked about
the work of Jack Kerouac, Capote replied:
"That's not writing. That's typing."
At 05:21 PM 1/5/99 +0100, John Cornellier wrote:
>Re. Diane Gutierrez's post about the vernacular meaning of
>technical:
>
>Merriam Webster's gives the definition of "technical" (1b) as
>"marked by or characteristic of specialization".
>
>In the case below it just means "specialized". E.g., people
>describe ski runs or mountain bike trails as "technical",
>which means requiring specialized skills, or TECHniques.
>(Those interested in etymology should check technology, BTW).
>
>This is also the sense of "technical" in "technical writer".
>Many of the recent postings to this list, comparing writers to
>engineers, etc., make the false assumption that "technical" in
>"technical writer" necessarily refers to technology.
>
