Meeting the changing demand placed on engineers as writers

It is pointed out that engineers must be able to communicate with a wider range of audiences, such as professionals from other disciplines, government officials, citizens´ advisory committees, and the general public. For readers with such diverse backgrounds, the one-size-fits-all approach no longer suffices; engineers now are required to generate, for example, proposals to win new projects, business correspondence, varied types of studies, journal articles, feasibility reports for bond financing, specifications, instruction manuals, and public relations materials, as well as a range of inhouse documents. At the same time, competition among engineering firms has grown and clients´ expectations have risen. Effective written communication is essential. This is a goal that can be achieved with the help of the enlightened technical writer/editor. This individual not only possesses writing skills but has developed a strong foundation of knowledge in the company´s field of specialization, thereby establishing credibility and a productive rapport with the engineering staff. The responsibilities and duties of the technical writer/editor are outlined.<>