Communicating in Civil Engineering

Related Resources
Print-Friendly Page
Authors & Contributors

Tom Siller, Civil Engineering Professor

The language used in Operating Procedures can be technical, but it can't be an impediment to accomplishing the operating goal. You have to make a balance. That is, instructions should be specific enough to understand and specific enough to provide the right technical information. For instance, "Turn knob," is vague; "Turn knob B," is more specific. Or, don't write, "Reduce the flow," without telling your audience that a gauge needs to be changed first.