---
title: "Characteristics of technical report writing"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 5
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:technical-report-characteristics"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/technical-report-characteristics
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Characteristics of technical report writing

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 5: Project Estimate

- Asked in: 2080 Baisakh, 4 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/technical-report-characteristics
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-5

## Question

Explain the characteristics of technical report writing of a project.

## Short answer

A technical report must be accurate, clear, concise but complete, logically organised, objective, audience-oriented, properly presented with tables and drawings, well documented, and useful for decisions and approval.

## Answer

A technical report is a formal document that records the facts, calculations, findings and recommendations of a technical work, so that a decision-maker can act on it. For a project (estimate) report, the main characteristics are:

1. **Accuracy:** facts, quantities, rates and calculations are correct and checked.
2. **Clarity and simplicity:** plain language, short sentences, defined technical terms, tables and figures instead of long text.
3. **Conciseness and completeness:** only the necessary information, but nothing important is missing (scope, data, method, results).
4. **Logical organisation:** standard order - title page, summary, introduction, data and method, results, discussion/abstract of cost, conclusions and recommendations, appendices.
5. **Objectivity:** based on facts and measurement, not opinion or bias.
6. **Audience orientation:** matched to the reader (owner, engineer, financing agency, approving authority).
7. **Proper presentation:** numbered headings, tables, drawings, references and units, consistent format.
8. **Documentation:** source of data, standards (NBC, DUDBC norms, NRS), assumptions and calculations are listed.
9. **Usefulness:** gives clear conclusions and recommendations for approval, tendering and construction.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What does accuracy mean in a technical report?
   A. Using long, decorative sentences
   B. Giving opinion of the writer
   C. Facts, quantities, rates and calculations are correct and checked
   D. Leaving out calculations
   Answer: C. A report is used for decisions, so figures must be right. (Key point: Accuracy)

2. What is objectivity?
   A. Based on the writer's preferences
   B. Written only for the owner's liking
   C. Avoiding numbers
   D. Based on fact and measurement, not on opinion or bias
   Answer: D. Objective reports state facts. (Key point: Objectivity)

3. What is meant by matching the report to its audience?
   A. Writing for the reader, such as the owner, engineer, financing agency or approving authority
   B. Using the most difficult technical words
   C. Writing the same for everyone with no summary
   D. Writing only for the writer's team
   Answer: A. The reader decides the level and presentation. (Key point: Audience orientation)

## Related in Estimating and Costing

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- [Project, characteristics, stages of estimate](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aproject-characteristics-stages) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 5
- [Components of detail estimate report (road)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Adetail-estimate-report-road) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 5
- [Define project; irrigation project estimate](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aproject-irrigation-estimate) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 5, asked 4×

## Related in other subjects

- [Principles of effective technical writing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Aprinciples-effective-technical-writing) — Communication English, chapter 4
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- [First quarterly progress report of a project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Aquarterly-progress-report-five-year-project) — Communication English, chapter 7