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: Texts on Grammar From:"Porrello, Leonard" <leonard -dot- porrello -at- COMPAQ -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 25 Aug 1998 05:40:34 -0700
Stephen,
Any college freshman handbook should have a what you would want to start
with. When I was teaching, I assigned _The Brief Holt Handbook_. Its
sections are, as the title states, brief, yet it is comprehensive enough to
be useful.
To perhaps open up a can of worms: your interest is well placed. For
contrary to a few, I am sure anomalous, previous postings, I think most
people on this list would agree that a writer can write really well and also
have excellent grammar skills. I used to use the "gee, really creative minds
don't trouble about grammar" argument when I was a college freshman (long
ago) and harbored grammar-phobia.
Most patronizingly yours, :)
By the way, how did you get Adobe certified, and has it helped you with job
prospects?
Leonard Porrello
Compaq, Telecom Solutions Division
Pubs, Omaha
402.384.7390
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stephen D. Murphy
> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 1998 6:11 AM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Texts on Grammar
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I confess. Having slid by stealth into the tech writing profession, I
> never had a class in grammar. No, not even in junior high school.
> Operating on intuition is delightful, but I would like to be able to
> formalize my knowledge so that I can defend, intelligently, what I write
> (and write better, too).
>
> Can anyone recommend a good solid English grammar book? I have "The
> Elements of Style" and "The Elements of Technical Writing;" these are
> good as far as they go but much too skimpy. Dull is okay, thorough is
> essential.
>
> Maybe one of you out there is an author of such a text?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Steve Murphy
> Senior Technical Writer, Shepard-Patterson & Associates
> 2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 209
> Arlington, Virginia
> Voice: (703) 412-5072 Fax: (703) 412-5078
> sdmurphy -at- shepard-patterson -dot- com
>http://www.shepard-patterson.com
> -------------------------------------------
> Adobe Certified Expert - FrameMaker
> murphus -at- idsonline -dot- com
>http://www.murphus.com
