RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

["Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>]

Lauren wrote:
 
> For legal writing, technical editing could result in a legal 
> change to the content.  Suppose a technical editor adheres to 
> the serial comma rule that there is not a comma after the 
> second to last list item?  

The serial comma rule _I_ learned said to put that comma in there. 
 
> Now a seller can contract to send "widgets, cogs and 
> sprockets or dingies."
> What is being shipped?  
> 
> Is it [widgets AND cogs AND sprockets] OR [dingies]?  
> 
> Is it [widgets] OR [cogs AND sprockets] OR [dingies]?  
> 
> Is it [widgets] AND [cogs] AND [sprockets OR dingies]?  
> 
> A technical writer without the requisite legal education may 
> miss this distinction.  Legal writing is a different animal 
> from technical writing.

Any technical writer/editor who "miss(es) this distinction" and needa a
"legal education" to disambiguate that list is a pi**-poor technical
writer/editor. 

Now, can we call off the debate over how many definitions of "technical"
can dance on the head of a pin, and just agree to disagree? :-)

Richard 


------
Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------




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