RE: What do you guys think of STCs new definition for technical writer?

["Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>]

Yes, it is wrong to use the serial comma in one sentence and not in the
preceding sentence.

Yes, the use of "assure" is wrong, unless there's an understood "you," which
is wrong, also.

No, "technical experience" doesn't need to be plural, because they are not
talking about multiple "experiences" but the noun "experience" that can be
called a collective noun.

The STC has demonstrated to me over time that it cares nothing at all about
editorial quality in its publishing. Fractured English, as I said recently.
The errors you pointed out in your message are nothing compared with some
I've seen, though.

Bonnie Granat
http://www.GranatEdit.com
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
> techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
> .com] On Behalf Of Borowik, Kristy
> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 9:07 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: What do you guys think of STCs new definition for 
> technical writer?
> 
> Yesterday I started a debate amongst the STC board of 
> directors, trying to get them to change their proposed 
> definition to include the word "ensure" rather than the word 
> "assure." Merriam Webster clearly states that the word 
> "assure" "distinctively implies the removal of doubt or 
> suspense from a person's mind." So how can they possibly use 
> the word in their definition? A few of the members agree with 
> me. One has changed it in the survey they sent out yesterday, 
> but this morning I received an e-mail from the director of 
> communications that makes me think the discussion is not 
> over. He simply thinks the word means something else.
> He said it means "to give likelihood to." Nowhere could I 
> find that definition. I seriously think he made it up. I'm 
> curious about what you all think of both the debate and the 
> definition.
> 
> My co-worker and I are concerned with the sole mention of 
> equipment. Is it not leaving out the biggest chunk of 
> technical communicators in the software field (and others)?
> 
> The definition: Develop and design instructional and 
> informational tools needed to assure safe, easy, proper and 
> complete use of technical goods.
> Combines multi-media knowledge and strong communication 
> skills with technical expertise to educate across the entire 
> spectrum of users'
> abilities, technical experience, and visual and auditory 
> capabilities."
> 
> Of course it also bothers me that the serial comma is not 
> used in the second line. But I have yet to do a formal survey 
> to see how many of us use it and how many don't. I was under 
> the impression that more do than don't, but I have only my 
> experience with the STC tech editing SIG to go by.
> 
> And then shouldn't technical experience also be plural as the 
> other items in that series, for logic and parallelism? Oh 
> this STC group just hurts my head!
> 


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