{"id":130,"date":"2018-05-11T01:06:50","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T05:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/technicalwriting2ed\/chapter\/technicaldescriptions\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T22:19:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T02:19:23","slug":"technicaldescriptions","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/technicalwriting2ed\/chapter\/technicaldescriptions\/","title":{"raw":"7.3 Technical Descriptions","rendered":"7.3 Technical Descriptions"},"content":{"raw":"Descriptive technical writing uses a combination of visuals and text to both \"show\" and \u201ctell\u201d the reader about the information being conveyed. Like more creative descriptions, technical descriptions sometimes draw on the \u201cfive senses\u201d and figurative comparisons (similes, metaphors, and analogies) to allow the reader to fully conceptualize what is being described. More often, however, they rely on concrete, measurable descriptors. Technical descriptions can take many forms, depending on purpose and audience. Depending on the reader\u2019s need, the description may range from a general overview requiring only a few sentences to a multi-chapter manual detailing every aspect of the mechanism\u2019s parts and functions in order to troubleshoot technical problems and complete repairs. For a fun fictional example of the latter, see the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Star Trek: The Next Generation: Technical Manual<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>(cover depicted in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Figure 7.3.1<\/strong>), which provides detailed descriptions of all equipment and technology used aboard the fictional U.S.S. Enterprise-D.<\/span>\r\n
\"Cover<\/figure>\r\nFigure 7.3.1<\/strong>\u00a0Cover Page of \"Star Trek: The Next Generation: Technical Manual\".<\/em>[footnote]R. Sturnback and M. Okuna,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Star Trek: The Next Generation: Technical Manual<\/em>. New York: Pocket Books, 1991.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nTechnical product descriptions are often legally required to ensure safety and compliance. <\/span>Poorly written technical descriptions can cause confusion, waste time, and even result in catastrophe! Attention to detail is critical.<\/span>\r\n\r\nProduct specifications require detailed descriptions of design features; instructions often require specific descriptive detail to \u201cshow\u201d the reader what to do and what something should look like at each stage of a process. Some general categories of technical descriptions include the following:\r\n

Mechanism Descriptions<\/strong> provide a detailed overview the physical aspects of a tool, machine or other mechanical device that has several parts and is designed to perform a specific function. These could be product descriptions for sales or manufacturing, documentation of design specifications, infographics, etc<\/em>.\u00a0 This chapter focuses in detail on this kind of description.<\/p>\r\n

Process Descriptions<\/strong>\u00a0detail a series of events (natural\/biological\/ecological, mechanical, social, or psychological phenomenon<\/em>) that happen in particular sequence in order to achieve a specific outcome. These can be categorized into non-instructional <\/em><\/strong>processes (such as a process analyses of how an internal combustion engine works, or natural processes like photosynthesis) and instructional<\/em><\/strong> process (such as recommended\/required procedures and explicit step-by-step instructions to be followed). (See Section 7.3 for detailed information on Writing Instructions<\/a>). A scientific lab report<\/a> contains a description of the process, or methodology, used in conducting the experiment. The description must be detailed enough to allow the reader to replicate the process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Technical Description of a Mechanism<\/h1>\r\nMechanism descriptions should provide a clear understanding of the object being described, including\r\n