Technical Writing: Objective Tone: The Voice of Impartiality and Facts
Think of technical writing as a courtroom presentation. Your goal is to present the facts clearly and persuasively, without injecting your personal opinions or emotions. An objective tone is essential for maintaining credibility and ensuring that your information is understood accurately.
What is Objective Tone?
Objective tone is a writing style that focuses on facts, evidence, and logical reasoning. It avoids personal pronouns (I, we, you), subjective language (e.g., “beautiful,” “amazing,” “terrible”), and emotional appeals.
Why is Objective Tone Important in Technical Writing?
- Credibility: Objective writing is seen as more trustworthy and reliable, as it presents information without bias.
- Clarity: It helps readers focus on the facts and understand the information without being swayed by the writer’s opinions.
- Professionalism: Objective tone is expected in most technical and scientific fields, and it reflects a professional approach to communication.
How to Achieve Objective Tone:
-
Avoid Personal Pronouns:
- Use third-person pronouns (he, she, it, they) or nouns instead of first-person (I, we) or second-person (you) pronouns.
- Example: Instead of “I think this is a good solution,” write “This solution is effective because…”
-
Use Precise and Neutral Language:
- Avoid subjective adjectives and adverbs that express opinions or emotions.
- Stick to factual descriptions and measurable data.
- Example: Instead of “The results were amazing,” write “The results showed a significant increase in efficiency.”
-
Focus on Evidence and Logic:
- Support your claims with facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions.
- Use clear and logical reasoning to explain your conclusions.
- Example: “Studies have shown that…” or “The data suggests that…”
-
Avoid Overly Casual Language:
- Eliminate slang, contractions, and colloquial expressions.
- Use formal language appropriate for academic or professional settings.
- Example: Instead of “This is gonna be tough,” write “This will be a challenging task.”
-
Use Passive Voice Sparingly:
- While passive voice can be useful in technical writing, overuse can make your writing sound impersonal and wordy.
- Use active voice when the doer of the action is important to the meaning.
- Example: Instead of “The data was analyzed,” write “The researchers analyzed the data.”
Let’s Practice!
Rewrite in Objective Tone: Revise the following sentences to achieve a more objective tone.
- I think this product is really cool and you should definitely buy it.
- We found that the new software is way better than the old one.
- The results were pretty good, but there’s still room for improvement.
Analyze Technical Documents: Find examples of objective writing in technical manuals, reports, or scientific articles. Identify the specific language choices that contribute to the objective tone.
Challenge!
Write a technical description of a product or process, using an objective tone and avoiding personal opinions.
Remember:
Objective tone is a crucial element of effective technical writing. By practicing these techniques, you can ensure that your writing is clear, credible, and professional.
