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

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

Needs a comma before "including," but I think the principles of good
technical writing ought to be brought seriously to bear on that definition
Mike. For example: "A technical communicator creates communication .. " --
would you accept something like that in a customer-facing document?

I also think that commenting on the quality in a definition is not good.
Would a definition of a physician say: "Ensures people become healthy..."?
No, of course not. So saying "A technical communicator creates communication
that is clear, concise, comprehensive, accurate, correct, accessible,
accurate, and ..." is like saying "Ensures people become healthy..." --
which is unacceptable.

Question to myself: "Why are you helping with a definition whose term you
think is silly?"

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 Mike Starr
> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 10:12 AM
> To: Borowik, Kristy
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: What do you guys think of STCs new definition 
> for technicalwriter?
> 
> Yesterday, in another thread, Sean Brierly came up with this 
> suggestion:
> 
> Sean Brierley wrote:
> > A technical communicator creates communication that is 
> clear, concise, 
> > comprehensive, accurate, correct, accessible, accurate, and 
> > professional, using a variety of methods, tools, and technologies, 
> > that can include writing, illustration, photography, video, 
> and sound, 
> > for a variety of static and dynamic deliverables, including print 
> > media and online media.
> 
> I then worked it over and came up with this:
> 
> Technical communicators create a variety of print and online 
> documents that are clear, concise, comprehensive, accurate, 
> correct, accessible, and professional. Typical deliverables 
> include manuals, online documentation, proposals, policies 
> and procedures, and websites. Technical communicators work in 
> all types of businesses and industries around the world and 
> use a variety of methods, tools, and technologies including 
> writing, illustration, graphic design, photography, video, and sound.
> 
> Incidentally, I'm not a proponent of brevity at all costs nor 
> am I inclined toward packaging the whole thing into a single 
> sentence. Word tells me this paragraph contains 63 words. I 
> don't think that's too much.


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