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:Re: Don't say what you CANNOT do in documents From:"Richard G. Combs" <richard -dot- combs -at- polycom -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 21 Apr 2004 13:56:49 -0600
John Posada wrote:
>If a word or usage is "becoming accepted", that
>means to me that there are still some people to
>whom it's not yet acceptable
At what point do we satisfy to those who won't keep up with change at
the expense of others who find the "correct" way strange.
I'm sure there are those out there that know that datum is the correct
form. How many readers, on seeing that usage, will have a mental pause.
You make a valid point, John. Some people will find the "correct" usage odd.
But, others will find the "becoming accepted" usage objectionable. IMHO, the
best way to handle such situations is to write around them. Instead of
singular _criteria_, use parameter, as someone suggested earlier. Instead of
singular _they_ as a non-sexist pronoun, rephrase in the plural or eliminate
the pronoun.
If a proposed usage engenders a couple of dozen posts to this list that are
vehemently for or against, it might be wise to find a third alternative in
your writing. :-)
Richard
------
Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Voyant, a division of Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
richardDOTcombs AT voyanttechDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT freeDASHmarketDOTnet
303-777-0436
------
ROBOHELP X5 - ALL NEW VERSION. Now with Word 2003 support, Content
Management, Multi-Author support, PDF and XML support and much more!
Now is the best time to buy - special end of month promos, including:
$100 mail-in rebate; Free online orientation on content management
functionality; Huge savings on support and future product releases;
PLUS Great discounts on RoboHelp training. OFFER EXPIRES April 30th!
Call 1-800-358-9370 or visit: http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -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.