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I've had weird and interesting questions around translation, about items
where I'd believe there wouldn't be an issue.
That said, translation would not be my first concern. I would just ask "can
I say this in a simpler way?" and if the answer is yes, I would re-word.
On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 3:46 PM, Wright, Lynne <Lynne -dot- Wright -at- kronos -dot- com>
wrote:
> In terms of translation concerns, surely any term like "via" that exists
> in English dictionaries isn't going to be a problem?
>
> It's really only colloquialisms that you have to watch out for (although I
> can't think of any colloquialisms that are appropriate to tech writing
> anyway).
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:
> techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
> sharipunyon -at- gmail -dot- com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 2, 2017 3:26 PM
> To: Robin Whitmore <rwhitmore -at- weebly -dot- com>
> Cc: TechWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Subject: Re: "via" - why often verboten ?
>
> I tend to write for the lowest common denominator, if possible. So I
> don't think about what an adult would understand, but a 7th grader or
> non-native speaker.
>
> I would avoid via for that reason. Also potential translation issues.
>
> > On Aug 2, 2017, at 12:01 PM, Robin Whitmore <rwhitmore -at- weebly -dot- com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Here's an interesting post from The Content Wrangler about the death
> > of the formal voice:
> > http://thecontentwrangler.com/2017/07/10/the-formal-business-voice-is-
> > dead/
> >
> > While it may be a bit over the top, I do agree that anything that
> > makes the writing more concise and easier to understand is best.
> > Without knowing the context, I don't think "via" would cause
> > confusion. The only caveat might be translation.
> >
> > On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 8:53 AM, Monique Semp
> > <monique -dot- semp -at- earthlink -dot- net>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Hello, WR-L-ers,
> >>
> >> Pubs style guides have long said to avoid âviaâ in favor of âbyâ. And
> >> in the case of MMoS (Microsoft Manual of Style), it says that âviaâ
> >> implies a geographic context,and to use the more specific term, âbyâ,
> âthroughâ, orâ'
> >> âby means ofâ.â
> >>
> >> But dictionary.com has the 2nde definition as âby the agency or
> >> instrumentality ofâ. So perhaps âviaâ is evolving?
> >>
> >> I hope so because I really want to use âviaâ to mean, âby means ofâ.
> >> Itâs much pithier, and I doubt could be misunderstood.
> >>
> >> Thoughts?
> >> -Monique
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> >
> > --
> > *Robin Whitmore*
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