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: Chattiness in manuals From:SaraTörök <sara -dot- torok -at- se -dot- nucletron -dot- com> To:<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:21:10 +0200
Hi Dan
Depends on what you classify as manuals, but in school books (even at
university level) and technical litterature, the chatty style is much more
common from US writers than it is in Europe, and we tend to get quite
disturbed by it.
Paid by the word - probably not full-time technical writers so often, but,
again, for authors of hand books, tutorials, technical litterature, this
is much more common in US publications. Is this not true anymore?
Regards,
Sara
______________________
Sara Török
Technical Writer
Nucletron Scandinavia AB
Tel. +46 18 56 50 27
______________________
"Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
Sent by: techwr-l-bounces+sara -dot- torok=se -dot- nucletron -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
2006-10-17 15:30
To
<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
cc
Subject
RE: Chattiness in manuals
Hi Sara,
As you say, "maybe it's cultural," but I can't figure out your post (even
with the winking icon). Do you *actually* think that most American tech
writers write chatty manuals, and that most of them get paid by the word?
On both matters, even a cursory reading of TECHWR-L would prove you wrong.
Best Regards,
Dan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sara Török
> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:00 AM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: Re: Chattiness in manuals
>
> Hi Sarah,
>
> I would presume the writer is American, because:
>
> 1. They are very fond of holding 'lectures' or
> telling stories as if they had a live audience
> or as if the text was supposed to be read out
> loud.
> 2. All writers in US of any kind still get
> paid by the word (or so the malicious rumor
> says... ;.)
>
> Seriously, this style could be fine in a
> tutorial, but in a reference manual, online
> help, or the like - NEVER. I'm looking for an
> answer to my question, a solution to my
> problem, facts, facts, facts. Don't waste my
> time with chitchat, jokes and anecdotes. I'm
> not up for it right now. I'm trying to do my
> job.
>
> Maybe it's cultural...
>
> Regards
> Sara
>
This message contains confidential information intended only for the use
of the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person
responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified
that reading, disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing or
the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this message is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this message by mistake, please
notify us, by replying to the sender, and delete the original message
immediately thereafter. Thank you.
WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular
Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as sara -dot- torok -at- se -dot- nucletron -dot- com -dot-
WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-
