RE: Technical writing in a higher ed environment

["Wendy Cunningham" <wcunning -at- pct -dot- edu>]

Oops...too much wine and a very long week, I suppose.  Correction for
second sentence below: "I really didn't mean CONSISTENCY above all
else."

Wendy Cunningham
Staff Development Specialist/Technical Writer
Pennsylvania College of Technology
One College Avenue
Williamsport PA 17701
SASC 2070
(570)329-4963
www.pct.edu
>>> Wendy Cunningham 03/19/04 9:36 PM >>>
I guess I should have remembered how literal technical writers are
(myself included). I really didn't mean "clarity above all else."  Of
course the meaning and clarity come first (assumed we all agreed on that
point). I guess I overstated my case.  I meant only to say that
consistency, even at the sentence level, is very important.  Keep in
mind that the example I gave was just that--an example, certainly not
the only problem I have with AP.  Admittedly, 'style' is as much about
personal preference as anything else.

RE the statement about "consistent documentation across all internal
documentation"... that's really not the situation. I'm the only person
really churning out "documentation"; most other content coming out of
the institution is of a marking/public relations nature. I don't think
anyone much cares what style I use for internal documentation. But,
since I'm providing some of the information via the Web, it is seen as
'publicly accessible.' Hense the need to comply with AP.  

Sheesh... thought I was asking for support, perspective, and experience.
Instead I get a lashing... <grin>...


>>> "Lisa Wright" <liwright -at- earthlink -dot- net> 03/19/04 5:14 PM 

>>>
Wendy,
I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one (I know it's
Friday...sorry). You say that "Technical writers are trained to honor
consistency above all else." What I was taught to be most important is
clarity and effectiveness in the content. ... 

Also, if we're looking at consistency, there is a valid argument to be
made for having consistent documentation across all internal
publications.





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