Re[2]: Defining Readability Levels

[Keith Arnett <keith_arnett -at- RESTON -dot- OMD -dot- STERLING -dot- COM>]

     Heidi Martin wrote:

     > The audience for these manuals is global, and not everyone speaks
     > (or reads) English as their first language.

     This is an increasingly significant consideration.  Our Style Guide,
     for example, bans the use of contractions to avoid confusing users who
     are not native English speakers.  Likewise, one must avoid idioms,
     stock phrases and examples that are not shared across cultures,
     technologies or languages.

     The kernal of this discussion seems to be the very essence of techical
     writing --  expressing complex procedures or concepts in simple and
     effective terms.  In the computer business, this is becoming
     increasingly difficult as marketers, analysts and trade publications
     seem to be vying to outdo one another by coining and utilizing the most
     horrible terminology--"mainframe-centric," "heterogenous environment,"
     and the like.

     Another key component would seem to be your target audience.  I would
     expect to use one readability level for a UNIX system adminstration
     manual and a different readability level for a power lawn mower
     manual.  Is it possible that there is some sort of relationship
     between the complexity of the subject matter and the comfort level of
     the reader?

     That is, can we apply a higher readablity level to a manual on a
     complex piece of medical equipment because we know the primary user
     will be a licensed medical doctor with an advanced degree?

     Keith Arnett
     Technical Writer
     Sterling Software, Inc./Operations Management Division
     Reston VA USA