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: Its and It's From:Beth Agnew <bagnew -at- INSYSTEMS -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 22 Sep 1997 13:01:00 -0400
TRIAD Services asked:
Why do so many people have problems with its and it's?
It's because we have seen them confused so many times in print that the
wrong one is starting to look correct. It's the "Sleeper Effect" -- for
some reason the brain likes to hold onto misinformation given by an
unimportant source, making it seem accurate and authoritative when recalled
from memory. I absolutely *know* the difference between the possessive and
the contraction, and when to use either, but I find myself unconsciously
typing the wrong one from time to time. Annoys me like silly, sometimes.
And that's my Pop Psychology input for the day.
--Beth
Beth Agnew
Senior Technical Writer, InSystems Technologies Inc.
65 Allstate Parkway, Suite 100
Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 9X1 mailto:bagnew -at- insystems -dot- com Tel: (905) 513-1400 ext. 280
Fax: (905) 513-1419
Visit us at: http://www.insystems.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
