TECHNICAL WRITING

TECHNIQUE NO. 1
DEFINITION
Definition is a way of giving or explaining
the meaning of an abstract term or
concept.

Coming from the Latin words finire (to

limit); and de (from), the explanation it
gives is limited only to what the reader
needs to know about the term to avoid
confusion with other words belonging to
the same class to where the target word
belongs.
 TYPES OF
DEFINITION
1. Informal Definition
- also called parenthetical definition/in-text definition
- it is also called dictionary definition
- it is distinguished or separated from other words in a
sentence through a dash, a colon, a comma, parentheses, italics
or bold face.
in some cases , it appears as a sentence following another
sentence.

2. Formal Definition
-also called Aristotelian and one-sentence logical definition.
-first, mention the term or species to be defined
-second, name the genus group or class where such term
belongs
-third, give the differentia to indicate its difference from
other members belonging to the class.
Erroneous Ways of Defining a Term through
the Formal Method
a.Tautology or Circular Definition- just
repeats the term
b.Analogy or Figurative Definition- just
compare it to other terms.
c.Negative or no-not Definition-simply
presents in the sentence the opposite of
another term.
d.Is where or is when Definition-the use
of where and when after the linking verb is
does not complement the term.
3. Extended, Expanded, or Amplified Definition
-it expands into a paragraph-length definition using around
three to ten sentences.
Ways of Expanding or Extending a Definition of a Term
a. Etymology or Word Derivation – gives the origin of the
term based on the country that first introduced the term to the
world.
b. Historical Definition- unlike etymology that focuses on the
linguistic origin or background knowledge of the syllables and
roots of words, historical definition stresses the historical
development of the term.
c. Negation or Elimination- Negation it uses more negative
sentences than positive ones, while this Elimination often
uses negative expressions like no, not, never.
d. Operating Principle- process involved (first, second, then,
next, soon, previously, lastly, finally, afterwards, before, and
so on.
e. Comparison-Contrast
-pointing out how such thing or concept is similar to or
different from other concepts.
f. Analysis by Partitioning
-to define a thing then is to divide this entire thing into its
parts and analyze or study each part.
g. Use of Examples
h. Explication
-the succeeding sentences operates to give meaning s of
some difficult expressions used in the previous sentences.
i. Operational Definition
-explain the indispensible function or use of this thing in
the process, project, or activity.
j. Stipulative Definition
-based on a special condition, a particular purpose, a
requirement, or a limitation.
4. Combined Definition
-Several types of definition can be
used in one paragraph to expand its
meaning. First, introduce the term
in a sentence definition that exactly
specifies its genus or class and its
function or purpose. Then extend its
meaning through the various
methods of definition.
Activity 1.

Think of a term or a concept that is closely related to your course.

Define this in various ways using the following types or definition.

Formal Definition
______________________________________________

Informal Definition
______________________________________________

Extended Definition
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
TECHNICAL WRITING
TECHNIQUE NO. 2
 DESCRIPTION
OF A MECHANISM
Description is a technical writing
technique that uses words and
visuals to create a picture of a
mechanism or a product.

Words are your number one

instrument or capital in painting on
the paper a vivid impression of the
object of the description.
What is often described in a technical writing
is a mechanism.

Mechanism is any device made up of

components that systematically worked
together to accomplish a certain purpose. In
other words, it is a machine with assembled
parts that function in an organized way.

Examples of mechanism are: scissors,

calculators, computers, vacuum, cleaners,
lawn mowers, etc.
TECHNICAL WRITING
TECHNIQUE NO. 3
DESCRIPTION
OF A PROCESS
Description of a process is a technical
writing technique that makes you give
a written account or explanations of
events orderly occurring one after
another over time.

For instance, in a vehicular mishap,

first, there is an accident; second, an
investigator; and third, a trial.
TYPES OF A PROCESS
1.How it operates or how it works
process- focuses on the way a thing
functions or operates.
2.How to do it process- gives emphasis to
the way you perform or do a thing.
3.How it happens process- it stresses the
process itself, this is why some call this
Process Analysis.
4.How it is organized process- it explains
how the constituents of the group assume a
certain arrangement or order of their
existence in the organization.
TECHNICAL WRITING
TECHNIQUE NO. 4
CLASSIFICATION
Classification is a technical writing technique
that makes you explain a thing by breaking this
thing into its categories and explaining each
class based on their similarities. It requires the
presence of these 3 elements:

Genus- the class to which the term to be

explained belongs
Basis- the main reason or principle that causes
the objects to fall into one class.
Species- the class member having
characteristics or distinctive qualities of its
own.
For example, if you want to explain what
the word glass means, you cannot do this
by giving its dictionary , parenthetical ,
sentential, amplified, or extended
meaning.

First, you have to give a formal definition

of glass; second, create categories or
classes of glass; lastly, explain each class
of glass focusing on the similarities of the
species composing such class of glass.
TECHNICAL WRITING
TECHNIQUE NO. 5
COMPARISON-CONTRAST
Comparing concepts
things, persons, and
places with each other
means pointing out their
similarities; contrasting,
their difference.
 Guidelines in Comparing and Contrasting
Things:
1. Begin your comparison-contrast with some
sort of definition, explanation, or
description.
2. Consider both external and internal
characteristics or properties of the objects to
know their similarities and differences in
looks and in purpose or function.
3. Bring out the similarities and differences
in an organized manner by using a particular
comparison-contrast method.
For Comparison: like, alike, similarly,
likewise, also, too, so is, either or, the same,
the same as, as rusty as, both in the same
manner, just, besides, moreover.

For Contrast: different, conversely, different

from, unlike, in contrast to, but, however,
whereas, on the other hand, while, bigger
than, more useful than, less useful than,
nevertheless, on the contrary, instead,
rather.
Degrees of Comparison
1.Positive Degree- early, far,
good, bad
2.Comparative Degree- earlier,
further, better, worse
3.Superlative Degree- earliest,
furthest, best, worst
Quiz 1.
1. It is a way of giving or explaining the meaning of an abstract
term or concept.
2. It is also called parenthetical definition/in-text definition
3. It is also called Aristotelian and one-sentence logical definition.
4. It expands into a paragraph-length definition using around
three to ten sentences.
5. It gives the origin of the term based on the country that first
introduced the term to the world.
6. It points out how such thing or concept is similar to or different
from other concepts.
7. It is based on a special condition, a particular purpose, a
requirement, or a limitation.
8. It simply presents in the sentence the opposite of another term.
9. It uses more negative sentences than positive ones.
10. It is often uses negative expressions like no, not, never.
Answer Key.
1. Definition
2. Informal Definition
3. Formal Definition
4. Extended, Expanded, or Amplified
Definition
5.Etymology or Word Derivation
6. Comparison-Contrast
7. Stipulative Definition
8. Negative or no-not Definition
9. Negation
10. Elimination