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Subject:RE: Rule about not using possessive? From:Andrea Kelso <AKelso -at- JetForm -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 5 Jul 2001 09:28:17 -0400
I've heard the same rule, though I don't mind using possessives if it makes
sense. I believe it's related to the idea that we shouldn't personify the
technology and some people might argue that ascribing ownership through
using a possessive is a form of personification.
The one place where I think you really need to be careful about using
possessives is with any trademarked name. In that case it's a no-no as it is
seen as diluting the trademark. Someone who understands trademark issues a
little better than I do could probably explain why.
Andrea
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Estep [mailto:EEstep -at- mrisystem -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 9:09 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Rule about not using possessive?
I questioned a change my editor had made, and now she's questioning herself.
She swears that at some point she learned that possessives are inappropriate
in technical writing, but now she can neither remember the logic behind this
"rule" nor find a source for it.
So, has anyone else out there every been exposed to this rule and, if so,
can you explain the reasoning? Thanks for your help.
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