What does the 'target audience' determine in technical writing?

The determination of the language choice and formatting in technical writing is heavily influenced by the target audience. Understanding who the intended readers are helps writers tailor their content to meet the specific needs, comprehension levels, and preferences of that audience. The complexity of the language used, such as jargon, technical terms, and simplification, will vary based on the audience's familiarity with the subject. Additionally, formatting decisions, such as the use of headings, bullet points, and white space, are also geared towards enhancing readability and engagement for the specific readers.

While other aspects such as length, font style, and visuals can be adjusted based on audience preferences, they are not as fundamentally tied to the core objectives of making the content accessible and understandable as language and formatting choices. The right language and effective formatting enable the technical document to communicate its message clearly to its intended audience.