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I may have misunderstood you, Alun, but what you *appear* to be doing is
making a distinction between technical writing--which is correct and useful
to the customer--and marketing writing, which is, if not deceitful, at least
misleading or "insincere."
First, I must apologize for my sense of humor. It seems that everything I
read here is so serious and intense (what we, in the auld sod used to
refer to as "poe-faced") that I feel the need to add a wise crack to
send up even my own comments. I'll try to control myself in future but
you really should try to lighten up, folks!
Next, cynical aside notwithstanding, I was pointing out that the secret
of good writing -- whether it is written to entertain, to teach or to
sell -- is commitment. If the writer doesn't believe in what she/he/they/it
is writing about then the reader will not be "reached" and will not care
either!
Good writing about a good product, communicates its superior functionality
and help sell it to the potential user. I once wrote a set of technical
manuals which the Marketing Department reprinted and distributed because
they said the manuals sold the product better than the brochures
produced by a slick, uncommited advertising agency.
