RE: POLL: A question of rhetoric (not a rhetorical question)

["Pete Sanborn" <psanborn2 -at- earthlink -dot- net>]

Roy asked:
"Can you clarify that, Pete?"

The intent was not to re-write or re-phrase your original statement, but to
eliminate the subject "you".  In many organizations, use of words such as
"you" tends to be considered unprofessional and/or sloppy writing in a
technical document.  I don't necessarily agree with that approach,
suggesting that all technical writing must be sterile, but it is one I have
had to adopt at different companies.  It wasn't intended as an editorial
comment or a critique, just an alternative way of phrasing. Like the others
on this thread, I also favor the positive approach.

Regards,
Pete

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-81537 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-81537 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com]On Behalf Of Roy
Jacobsen
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2001 4:39 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: POLL: A question of rhetoric (not a rhetorical question)


Other than switching from active to passive voice, I'm not sure that
Pete's re-write changes my original to a "neutral" statement. Can you
clarify that, Pete?

Thanks,
Roy

-----Original Message-----
From: Pete Sanborn [mailto:psanborn2 -at- earthlink -dot- net]
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2001 3:37 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: POLL: A question of rhetoric (not a rhetorical question)


Roy Jacobsen writes:
"You can assign at item to only one group."

Or, "An item may be assigned to only one group" to make it a neutral
statement.



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