Home Library Translate
A A A
Share »
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on LinkedIn
Connect »

Blog: Business Communications

Menu

  • This Blog's Home
  • Guest Writer Submissions
  • Policies
  • To Subscribe to a Blog
  • About
  • Feedback

Charts And The Technical Writer

By Theresa Pojuner on September 3, 2012

One of the most essential components of a document is charts.  As Technical Writers, we always write concisely, and clearly, but there will be times, when we need the assistance of charts to communicate what was written. Whether it’s for qualitative or quantitative explanations we sometimes need charts to truly present the whole picture. There are many types of charts.

  • Graphic Charts are great at immediately presenting visual quantitative analyses at one glance. We use bar, pie, line, graph, spacial charts to show percentages, amounts of data, comparisons, changes in data, compositions, etc.
  • Charts are effective for organizational charts by displaying the chain of command within a company. They are also known as hierarchical charts when we need to describe data structures.
  • Pyramid shaped charts are used to show relevancy (most to least valuable assets), how one moves from top to bottom, or for showing relationships of how one element is connected to another.
  • Gantt charts are used for scheduling project start and finish dates (managing project time lines), problem areas, different tasks, historical events and how one project might lead to another or intersect.
  • Flow charts show how one occurrence leads to another. It clearly defines what occurs at various stages of an event. As an example, for any complex process, break it down into components. For each component, you can again simplify it further. When the images cannot fit on a sheet of paper or on one screen, you can use numbers or alphabets to point to another location to continue the diagram.

Charts are one the most common graphics. The type of chart you are going to use depends on what you need to define, explain or outline to the audience.  Make sure it’s applicable, meaningful, and clear.  Some graphic designs are more flexible than others.  As a simple example, to show percentages, a pie chart would be appropriate, but you could also have used a scatter diagram with characters or figures instead to provide more interest. Scatter diagrams unlike the pie chart, can be used to also show a comparison over time using different colors for each entity. For this example, you could also have applied a line graph and blend colors using another graphic pattern to display overlaps.  The best graphic image to use to get your explanation across to the audience is up to you.

To make it more appealing, think of how you would like to see the data and how the audience would like to see it.

  • Sometimes adding pictures of items or subjects are helpful to make the chart or image more appealing.
  • Use color, but not too much as it can cause confusion.

As a final note: There are a number of open source applications or tools which can be used to help you display your data. Make use of these tools and suggestions to clarify your document.

« Previous Next »

Search Our Site

Meet This Blog’s Host

Gail Zack Anderson, President of Applause, Inc., has nearly 20 years experience in training and coaching. She provides individual presentation coaching, and leads effective presentation workshops and effective trainer workshops. [Read more ...]


Theresa Pojuner is a Documentation Specialist with over 20 years of writing experience and is skilled in many areas of documentation, for example, Style Guides, Training Manuals and Test Cases, wth a specialty n Technical Writing and Procedures. [Read more ...]

Recent Blog Posts
Alternate Recent Posts Widget

  • Becoming A Technical Writer-Communicator Review
  • Creating A Knowledge Community
  • Tips for Handling Technical Writer Stress
  • Likeminded Communication
  • A Technical Writer Is Different From Other Writers
  • Involve and Engage Your Audience 20 Ways
  • Tips On Documenting Processes
  • Communicating Technical Writing Review
  • Communicating Via Visual Designs
  • Special Tips for Laptop Presentations

Related Library Topics

  • Body Language
  • Netiquette

Categories of Posts

  • Basics and Overviews
  • Body Language
  • Communicating Change
  • Communication Best Practices
  • Feedback (Sharing)
  • Humor in speaking
  • images
  • Listening
  • Netiquette
  • Presenting
  • slide shows
  • Speaking Skills
  • Team Presentations
  • technical writing
  • Telephone Skills
  • Uncategorized
  • Visual Aids
  • Voice and Vocal Habits
  • Writing

Library's Blogs

  • Boards of Directors
  • Building a Business
  • Business Communications
  • Business Ethics, Culture and Performance
  • Business Planning
  • Career Management
  • Coaching and Action Learning
  • Consulting and Organizational Development
  • Crisis Management
  • Customer Service
  • Facilitation
  • Free Management Library Blogs
  • Fundraising for Nonprofits
  • Human Resources
  • Leadership
  • Marketing and Social Media
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building
  • Project Management
  • Quality Management
  • Social Enterprise
  • Spirituality
  • Strategic Planning
  • Supervision
  • Team Building and Performance
  • Training and Development
About Feedback Legal Privacy Policy Contact Us
Free Management Library, © Copyright Authenticity Consulting, LLC ®; All rights reserved.
  • Graphics by Wylde Hare LLC
  • Website maintained by Caitlin Cahill

By continuing to use this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.X