Re: Academic Writing Style -- why?

[Annette Schulz <Annette -at- DIGITAL-REN -dot- COM>]

Exactly. Too many times I see technical communicators at all levels
buying into the "norm" with out ever questioning the legitimacy of these
standards. If you want to adopt a standard of any kind (typographic or
linguistic) then be able to argue it's merit.

Personally I write to inclued the reader into my text. Almost like
having a conversation... like teaching them personally. But that's the
type of audience I'm writing for. Acedemics and scientist require
formality in their text...it formalizes their thoughts, adds a degree
authority: "believe me when I tell you" tone. I don't think a
pharmaceutical company would have it any other way.

My two cents worth.

A n n e t t e   S c h u l z
S r .  T e c h n i c a l   W r i t e r
D i g i t a l   R e n a i s s a n c e
( 4 1 6 )  5 3 5 - 4 2 2 2  ( e x t. # 2 2 4 3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To program is human; to document, divine.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Hamilton [SMTP:chamilton -at- GR -dot- COM]
> Sent: Friday, January 30, 1998 2:05 PM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Academic Writing Style -- why?
>
> This is an offshoot of the first person thread. I understand that
> scientific and academic writing includes a lot of third person and a
> lot
> of passive voice. My question is: why?
>
> Someone must have sat down at some point and said, "You know if we
> write
> like this, we'll see x, y, and z advantages."
>
> What are x, y, and z?
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris Hamilton, Sr. Technical Writer   chamilton -at- gr -dot- com
> Greenbrier & Russel                    http://www.gr.com
> -------------------------
> These views are mine, not my employer's.
>
>
> ~~
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