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:Typoz and apostrophes From:Lisa Baker <lisab -at- COREL -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 28 Feb 1997 08:41:12 -0700
OK. I'm going to beat the dead horse.
Yes, using proper punctuation and grammar is important. The rules provide tools
for communicating with clarity. However, I'd say some of these responses
indicate an unproductive obsessiveness with it. So, you throw out a writer's
resume because it says "two years experience" rather than "two years'
experience." Perhaps you fear the same type of "unprofessionalism" will creep
into your otherwise pristine documentation.
Yet, from the responses, it appears we as writing professionals don't necessarily
agree on the usage and that alternate usage is prevalent. If that is the case, is it
going to be an issue to your customer who in most cases are not professional
writers? (Aren't some of your customers these "C++ programmers that can't
string two words together?") Is it going to cloud the meaning of your
documentation? Is it going to distract them? No.
It seems when we get a few writers and editors together we often spend a lot of
time discussing details like this that make no difference to our customers
whatsoever.
Lisa Baker
lisab -at- corel -dot- com
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
