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: Formal vs. informal style? From:John Boland <JohnMethod -at- AOL -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 1 Feb 1999 14:58:50 EST
Hiya,
I know that this is water 'way under the bridge for you copy generators, but
Rowena Hart writes:
<<One of the easiest ways to check the clarity of your writing is to read it
aloud. Problems that your eyes skip over will have your tongue tripping and
hesitating. You'll quickly notice redundancies, passive voice, logic errors,
and poor word choice. If you can read an entire document aloud without
difficulty, you're on your way to simple and elegant language.>>
Amen....and you might find a text-to-speach translator helpful. Being a
gunslinger (consulting engineer), I have no one else to "proof" my copy. It
is amazing how stupid a report can sound when "Fred" reads it dispassionately.
I find it quite effective even if I am involved in something else.
The mechanism of representing ideas in words seems to doom us, the
linguistically limited, to reading what we thought we said.
Old quote by ex-president of Stanford U:
"I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure
you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Anyway....give "Fred" a shot. 8^D
John G. Boland, president
Strateg!c Method$ Corporation
One Parker Square Suite 408
2525 Kell Boulevard
Wichita Falls, Texas 76308
940.322.9922
940.723.1478 fax
