Editing Technical writer (section)

===Audience analysis===
{{Main|Audience analysis}}
Technical writers strive to simplify complex concepts or processes to maximize reader comprehension. The final goal of a particular document is to help readers find what they need, understand what they find, and use what they understand appropriately.<ref name=Riordan>{{cite book |last = Riordan |first = Daniel |title = Technical Report Writing Today |year = 2005 |publisher = Wadsworth Cengage Learning |location = Boston, MA |isbn = 978-0-618-43389-6 |pages = 1–546 }}</ref> To reach this goal, technical writers must understand how their audiences use and read documentation. An audience analysis at the outset of a document project helps define what an audience for a particular document requires.

When analyzing an audience the technical writer typically asks:<ref name=Riordan />
* Who is the intended audience?
* What are their demographic characteristics?
* What is the audience's role?
* How does the reader feel about the subject?
* How does the reader feel about the sender?
* What form does the reader expect?
* What is the audience's task?
*Why does the audience need to perform that task?
* What is the audience's knowledge level?
* What factors influence the situation?

Accurate audience analysis provides a set of guidelines that shape document content, design and presentation (online help system, interactive website, manual, etc.), and tone and knowledge level.