Technical Writing: Ethics and Honesty for Developers

Technical writing involves a balance of ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic). Ethics in technical writing means being honest, accurately representing evidence, and giving credit to sources. To ensure ethical writing, evaluate information included, words used, potential pressures, and whether credit is given to resources. Avoid deceptive writing by not blurring lines or misrepresenting data. Give credit to referenced authors through links, footnotes, or citations. Unintentional ethics violations can occur due to misinformation, biases, inaccurate information, and lack of consideration for the primary audience. Regularly verify information and update content as needed.