TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Technical writing circa 1931 From:"Thomas Quine" <quinet -at- home -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 8 Jan 2001 09:59:12 -0800
Let me share a quote with you from "Technical Writing" by T.A. Rickard
(Wiley & Sons, 1931)
>From Page 1...
"Indeed the engineer does bungle language deplorably. He makes a fetish of
efficiency, yet he shows no regard for the effective use of one of his most
important tools - the pen; he believes devoutly in accuracy, yet he employs
an instrument of precision as carelessly as a small boy handles a gun."
Extended rant snipped...
Page 3...
"In my own experience I have found that nicety of phrasing is regarded by
many engineers as effeminate..."
It's been a sneaking suspicion of mine for years that technical writing as a
profession was born out of pure annoyance with the writing of engineers...
now we may have the proof!
- Thom
www.documen.com
Thom Quine
2395 Oak St.
Vancouver, B.C.
V6H 2J8
(604) 733-3363
quinet -at- home -dot- com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by DigiPub Solutions Corp, producers of PDF 2001
Conference East, June 4-5, Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. http://www.pdfconference.com or toll-free 877/278-2131.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
