TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Contractions in general From:Matt Ion <soundy -at- NEXTLEVEL -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 27 Jun 1996 09:25:07 -0800
On Thu, 27 Jun 1996 08:45:00 W, Primrose-Smith Steven Peter wrote:
>Since this list has recently talked the its and it's thing to death, I
>wondered
>what the list's opinion was about using contractions in general. I've
>talked to
>people who swear by them and others who consider them grammatically
>incorrect. I like to use contractions to make the text flow more easily and
>to give the document a more informal, relaxed tone. What do you think?
The answer to that is very familiar to Techwhirlers -- use what is
appropriate for the specific document/product/project/target audience.
Military and government paperwork is almost completely devoid of
contractions (although the military does love its acronyms!) At the
other end of the scale, "...for Dummies" books are meant to come across
like casual conversation, and contractions and other elements of
everyday speech are plentiful.
In short, Know Thy Reader.
Your friend and mine,
Matt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Maybe all I need, besides my pills and surgery,
is a new metaphor for... reality." -- Queensryche
Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Next Level
Productions, or anyone else of sound mind from this planet or dimension!
TECHWR-L List Information
To send a message about technical communication to 2500+ list readers,
E-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send administrative commands
ALL other questions or problems concerning the list
should go to the listowner, Eric Ray, at ejray -at- ionet -dot- net -dot-
