Logical relationships in technical writing

Technical writing is a form of technical communication used in a variety of technical and occupational fields, such as computer hardware and software, engineering, chemistry, robotics, finance, consumer electronics, and biotechnology.

Technical writing refers to a type of writing where the author outlines the details and operations of administrative, technical, mechanical, or scientific systems. The main goal of technical writing is to educate, direct, and give others the ability to use a certain system. Examples of traditional technical writing might include:

- A whitepaper published in an engineering journal about a new system that has been devised

- An article in a chemical engineering journal summarizing an experiment that has been conducted

- A technical report that describes the process, progress, or results of technical or scientific research or the state of a technical or scientific research problem

In order to make technical writing clear and the transitions between ideas smooth, clearly express the logical relationships between ideas. Here are some suggested words for expressing the eight logical relationships.

1. Addition to what has been previously indicated:

moreover, further, furthermore, besides, and, and then, likewise, also, nor, too, again, in addition, equally important, next, first, second, third, in the first place, in the second place, finally, last, above all, additionally, again, not only... but.

2. Comparison:

similarly, likewise, in like manner, correspondingly, both... and..., in the same way

3. Contrast:

but, yet, however, still, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, even so, for all that, in contrast to this, at the same time, although this may be true, otherwise, conversely

4. Place:

here, there, beyond, nearby, opposite to, adjacent to, on the opposite side, adjacent, in the background, in the foreground, behind, below, to the left, to the right, elsewhere

5. Purpose:

to this end, for this purpose, with this object

6. Result:

hence, therefore, accordingly, consequently, thus, as a result, then, as a consequence for this/that reason, in order that, so that

7. Summary (a generalisation or summing up of what has preceded):

repetition, exemplification, intensification: to sum up, in brief, on the whole, in sum, in short, as I have said, in other words, that is, to be sure, as has been noted, for example, for instance, in fact, indeed, to tell the truth, in any event, regarding.

8. Time: