RE: and/or?

["Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>]

Sarah Boucher wrote:
>>Al Geist wrote:
It's not clear at all. Did the alley cat suffer from disease and
malnourishment, or did the alley cat suffer from disease or
malnourishment?<

It's perfectly clear to me; the writer doesn't know, and has therefore
covered both possibilities.<


Then the sentence should have been rewritten to say "It was unclear whether
the alley cat suffered from disease, or malnourishment, or both."  Now it's
clear what the write is trying to say. Check out Stunk and White's "Elements
of Style" (ISBN0-02-418230-3) or Theodore Bernstein's "The Careful Writer"
(ISBN 0-689-70555-7). I'm sure there are numerous other books that
illustrate the ambiguity of "and/or" and why it is considered lazy writing.


Al Geist
Technical Writing, Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design and Award Winning
Videos
Voice/Mug: 802-658-3140
Cell: 802-578-3964
E-mail: mailto:al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
URL: http://www.geistassociates.com (Online portfolio and resume)
See also:
URL: http://www.geistimages.com (Fine art photographic prints for home or
office and beautiful note cards for all occasions.)


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.