Technical writer - Skill set

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Beyond solid research, language, and writing skills, a technical writer's skill set may include:

Information design
Information architecture
Training material development
Illustration
Typography

Technical writing may be on any subject that requires explanation to a particular audience. A technical writer usually is not a Subject Matter Expert (SME), but possesses and applies expertise to interview SMEs and conduct research necessary to produce accurate, comprehensive documents. Companies, governments, and other institutions typically hire technical writers not for expertise in a particular subject, but for expertise in technical writing, i.e., their ability to gather information, analyze subject and audience, and produce clear documentation.

A good technical writer creates documentation that is accurate, complete, unambiguous, and as concise as possible. Technical writers create documentation in many forms: printed, web-based or other electronic documentation, training materials, and industrial film scripts.