Literary writing vs.

Technical writing
Armida G. Gregorio
Adviser
James Paul G. Gomez
Substitue Teacher
Objectives for
this lesson:

1. Compare and contrast technical

writing from academic, business, and
professional writing.
2. Differentiate technical writing from
literary writing.
 Differences among
academic, business and
professional writing
Academic Writing
The difference between academic writing and
technical writing is in the presentation, audience, and
approach.
Academic writing includes paragraphs – usually an
introductory paragraph, paragraphs that develop a
thesis (a statement of purpose), and a concluding
paragraph.
It is written for an academic audience – instructors,
classmates, or a group of interested scholars.
 Differences among
academic, business and
professional writing
Business Writing
It deals with the type of writing and style of
documents used by corporations, small business, and
organizations.
A business writer is conveying information, but with
the additional purpose of persuading the reader to
agree with the author by the end of the document.
For example: A business proposal. It is designed to
persuade the audience (usually another business or
organization) to accept a bid to complete a work project.
 Differences among
academic, business and
professional writing
Professional Writing
It refers to written communication commonly used
in
the workplace, which includes documents such as
résumés, cover letters, personal statements, emails,
and memos.
For example: a résumé and cover letter work
together to convince the hiring manager that the
candidate is right for the job.
 Differences among
academic, business and
professional writing

Technical writing is not literature; it’s neither prose which

recounts the fictional tales of characters nor poetry which
expresses deeply felt, universal emotions through similes and
metaphors.
Technical writing is neither an expressive essay narrating an
occurrence nor an expository essay analyzing a topic.
Technical writing is not journalism, written to report the news.
Technical writing does not focus on poetic images, describe
personal experiences, or report who won the basketball game.
 Differences between
academic, business and
professional writing

Instead, technical writing is:

—an instructional manual for repairing
machinery
—a memo listing meeting agendas
—a letter from a vendor to a client
—a recommendation report proposing a new
computer system
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
1. Primary purpose
Literary writing is to Technical writing aims to
entertain or amuse the provide useful information.
reader. Technical writing asserts to

To suggest the writer’s convey the writer’s ideas

message, to impart a lesson directly, to give directions and
and to broaden a person’s to serve as a basis for decision
making.
outlook.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
2. Subject Matter
Focuses on man’s Technical writing deals
experience and life with subject related to
including the intricacies business industry, science
of the human heart. and technology.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
3. Language
The language of literary Technical writing makes use
writing is figurative and uses of formal and serious
the imaginary vocabulary. technical or scientific
terminologies suited for its
The words and expressions purposes and style.
used are beautifully and
rhythmically interwoven to
produce a poetic
interpretation of life.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing

Literary writing Technical writing

4. Point of View
In literary writing, the The technical writer
writer may use the first or usually employs the third
the third person point of person point of view: the
view or even from the researcher, the
point of view of the proponent, the author or
observer known as the the writer.
third person omniscient.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
5. Tone
Literary writing is The tone is
personal, subjective and predominantly objective,
definitely emotional. impersonal and unbiased.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
6. Style
Literary works adopt Technical writing utilizes
complicated and standard forms or
sophisticated styles. preconceived designs and
little variations from the
standards form.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
7. Content
The contents of literary works Technical writing deals with a lot
are suggestive and creative - it of topics.
is usually dramatic and Technical writing does not only
imaginative. tell you outright the information
needed but also limits
interpretation to one.
Nontechnical writing contains
specialized topics for selected It is factual, impersonal and free
types of audience. from emotions and distortions.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
8. Use of Visual Aids
Literature seldom employs On the other hand,
visual aids since the literary technical writing uses visual
writer is armed with words aids such as tables,
drawings, graphs, charts,
that can fully narrate or
and others to facilitate
describe what he wants to comprehension of statistics
put across. and interpretation of data.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
8. Use of Visual Aids
Literature seldom employs On the other hand,
visual aids since the literary technical writing uses visual
writer is armed with words aids such as tables,
drawings, graphs, charts,
that can fully narrate or
and others to facilitate
describe what he wants to comprehension of statistics
put across. and interpretation of data.
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
Difference Between
Literary writing and
Technical writing
References:
 Neale, D. (2009). A creative writing handbook. United Kingdom: The Open
University.
 Zemach, D.E. & Rumsiek, L.S. (2009). Academic writing from paragraph to
essay. Spain: McMillan
Creative writing guidelines. Retrieved from
http://www.itmatchonline.com/article/Creative_writing_guidelines.
Creative writing. Retrieved from
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/eaton/CreativeWriting.pdf