Technical Writing Resources [books, in particular]

[Dick Margulis]

Folks,

The message below, from Kerri Flanagan, kflanagan at LSDAZ.COM, is 
forwarded from the copyediting list, with her permission. Please CC her 
on any responses.

Dick

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Hello all,

I'm compiling a list of grammar and writing resources for some of the 
technical specialists at my company. In addition to my usual list of 
go-to grammar and writing resources I have come to trust over time, I 
would like to include a few well-regarded, engaging, and easy-to-read 
books on technical writing. My background is in anthropology and 
scholarly editing, with some applied math/science editing experience, 
not specifically in the field of technical communication; therefore, I'm 
looking to expand my reference library and am in need of some firsthand 
feedback.

Our specialists include environmental planners, biologists, 
archaeologists, permitting specialists, and architects--all of whom fall 
in the category of specialists who must write as part of their jobs, not 
professional technical writers. So, I'm looking for good sources dealing 
with either basic technical writing skills across disciplines or 
technical writing skills geared toward the natural sciences. I have 
started to identify some potential technical writing books, but I would 
greatly appreciate any and all suggestions.

I'm on digest, so please Cc CE-L if you want to share your response with 
others.

Thanks,
Kerri
Technical Editor