The hard skills you need depend on the type of technical writing you do. These skills range from the geeky end of the technical writing spectrum, where employers in high-tech software industries will have an expectation that technical writers can code—at least to some extent!—to roles that require very little specialized technical knowledge beyond the standard technical writer toolkit, such as documenting processes or procedures.

Some hard skills every technical writer must have in their toolkit, regardless of the organization they work for, are the abilities to:

• Effectively structure and format documents.
• Write clearly and concisely.
• Use correct grammar and punctuation.
• Follow a style guide.

Here are some of the skills and tools commonly needed for different technical writing roles:

Note

There are many more hard skills that are highly desirable for technical writers to develop. They include: Degrees and certificates. Understanding of fundamental technical writing concepts. Proficiency with writing, grammar, and punctuation. Knowledge of common rules of style and grammar. Ability to effectively use a style guide. Ability to effectively structure and format documents. Proficiency in a computer programming language.