Section 1.4.1.1

Writing for Experts

Distinguish between two types of experts: general experts and specific experts. Both kinds are readers with extensive technical knowledge of the document's subject matter.

Levels of Knowledge

General experts possess extensive knowledge about a field in general, but they might be unfamiliar with particular technical terms, specific equipment, or recent advances in your document's subject matter. Specific experts, on the other hand, share or surpass your knowledge about a document's subject matter.

Purposes in Using Document

Experts read technical and scientific documents for a variety of purposes:

Strategies for Writing to Experts

• If your audience consists solely of specific experts, you may not need to give extensive background or define key technical terms or acronyms.
• If your audience includes general experts, provide sufficient background information and define any terms that they might be unfamiliar with.
• Do not just present a concept to an expert. Also explain its parts and processes in detail.

See Document Density.