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I think the question being debated is whether breaking grammar rules is
acceptable when doing so doesn't result in a significant improvement in
readability.
While some may say a comma splice and the use of "then" as a conjunction
improves readability, I'd need to see hard data to be convinced.
Leonard
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of Hemstreet, Deborah
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:44 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: "and then," or simply "then"?
Sean wrote " What do you have to lose by getting the point
across AND being grammatically correct?"
======
I've not really been following this thread too well, but Sean's comment
reminded me of something I read in my studies about grammar years back.
The book/article/lesson page (no longer remember which), discussed the
issue that grammar is a tool of language and should not rule language.
What I found interesting was that the case was set for NOT following
grammatical rules in the interest of clearer communication.
So the issue would be, I guess, if I'm going to break a rule:
1. Is it poetry? It's OK <grin>
2. Is the message still clear to the reader (of a manual, for example)?
Then it might be OK.
3. By breaking the rule, am I reducing the number of words the reader
must digest to comprehend instructions? If yes, I could be improving
readability and usability.
When Rules 2 & 3 are met, I consider this acceptable.
If Rule # 1 is met, I hope its not in my manual - though (and I digress
here), as a test to see if anyone was reading the online Help, I once
put a poem I wrote about Purkinje fibers in a link about a medical
system's use for treating arrhythmias. The project manager got a letter
from a physician asking if the author of the poem was available to hire
(they loved the poem).
So someone DID read the help, and I felt good. And the poem, and this
email, broke just about every grammatical rule there is.
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Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com -dot-
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help gives you everything you need to author and
publish quality Help, Web, and print content. Perfect for technical
authors, developers, and policy writers. Download a FREE trial. http://www.componentone.com/DocToHelp/
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
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