Last Updated on August 5, 2023 by
Introduction
In writing, you can see lots of different types. Each type has a different purpose for serving. Two significant types of writing are academic and technical writing. First of all, let’s understand both of these writing types as per their definitions. Academic writing is that type of writing which focuses on some idea and its implementation. It plays an important role at an academic level. It follows proper structure to mention the details of an idea. This writing further has different types which perform well in their particular area. One of the best examples of academic writing is a dissertation.
On the other hand, technical writing is used at professional level. It includes reports, proposals, letters and other documents like these. The purpose of technical writing is to plan some meeting or project by sharing its relevant data. On the internet, you can find bundles of tools and academic writing services that are designed to assist you in technical writing. Technical writing also has different types that are used for a particular purpose. This article aims to discuss about differences and similarities between technical and academic writing.
What is the Difference between Academic Writing and Technical Writing?
Following are the differences between academic writing and technical writing:
- Area of Discussion
- Writers’ Expertise
- Targeted Audience
- Supporting Material
- Use of Personal Point of View
Let’s discuss each difference briefly.
- Area of Discussion
The area of discussion is different in technical and academic writing. In technical writing, the focus point is to share details of some product. Furthermore, you can add a discussion about a service. At organizational level, the use of technical writing is ensured. While working on a new business or product, writers make technical documents with all relevant details.
On the other hand, academic writing covers the area of academics. Its discussion revolves around principles and theories. Here, it needs to work on a problem or innovation related to your subject. Writers generate hypotheses or research problems for working.
- Writers’ Expertise
For technical writing, the writer must have expertise in it. He has to practice technical writing before actually performing the duties of a technical writer. At the organizational or professional level, mistakes in technical writing can cause serious trouble. From formatting to information added to it, everything matters a lot. It requires good command on it. Otherwise, you may have to deal with project failures.
On the other hand, academic writing does not ask for a particular experience. In the case of academic writing, you keep on learning. For example, at the bachelor’s level, you work on academic writing for the first time. You write and learn at the same time.
- Targeted Audience
In case of technical writing, the targeted audience is also experts in the same field. For example, you have made a report on some product. Now, you have to share that report with some other organizations. Their targeted audience is the technical writing experts of other organizations. Both of writers with the same expertise can evaluate the issue in a better way.
In the case of academic writing, your audience is of same field, but it is different from the audience of technical writing. It covers students and research experts.
- Supporting Material
In technical writing, supporting material is used in final thoughts. It includes charts or other relevant pictures. The supporting material reinforces the idea that you have discussed in the document.
In case of academic writing, the supporting material is used in explaining body. Whenever you have to discuss about conviction, it is preferred to support it with evidence.
- Use of Personal Point of View
Technical writing does not include any personal opinion. Here, your writing style needs to be non-personal and clear. Whatever is the purpose of your writing, it remains non-personal and consistent.
Academic writing encourages personal opinions. The part of the conclusion is written as the summary of the whole work. While the part of recommendation includes personal opinion and based on that you can recommend something for future.
- What are the Similarities between Academic Writing and Technical Writing?
Following are the similarities between academic writing and technical writing:
- Writing Style
- References
Let’s discuss each similarity briefly.
- Writing Style
Technical writing and academic writing both follow formal writing styles. In both of writing types, the targeted audience is from education and professional sector. Here, your writing tone needs to be formal, straightforward and clear. Unlike creative writing, these writing types do not encourage suspense and drama. The use of the third person is ensured in academic writing as well as in technical writing. All these are the primary points that matter a lot in the document.
- References
Both of the writing types demand a list of references. The use of reference works as evidence. Furthermore, the use of reference is preferred to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism causes serious trouble. Especially in the case of academic writing, you have to avoid plagiarism for the successful submission of your work. Another purpose of referencing your document is that, it shows that you have searched for the discussed issue. Also, you have a clear idea about that issue. Technical writing works with APA referencing style, while academic writing follows any style of referencing as per demand. Many institutes have their own set of standards. In such cases, researchers are bound to follow those standards, but the main point is that both of writing types demand referencing.
Final Thoughts
Academic writing and technical writing both are very frequently used writing types in their particular area. There are some people who take these two writing types as same. In reality, both are two different types of writing. Although these two writing types have some similarities in terms of references and style, but both cannot replace each other. At the organizational level, you cannot work on academic writing. Similarly, at student level, you cannot submit a document of technical writing as the replacement of a dissertation. By all of the above-mentioned points, you can differentiate these writing types easily.
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