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Subject:Re: Standard English vs "industry standard" From:Marci Abels <mabels -at- SKYJACKINC -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 26 Mar 1999 13:53:06 -0600
My standard has always been to use a style manual and hold it up as the Bible. It doesn't always work, but most engineers I've worked with will but into a printed authority, where they would balk at making changes based on a lowly tech writer's word for it. If nothing else, show him/her the style guide, then ask for a written authority to back up the SME's preference.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Stegall [SMTP:stegall -at- TERAYON -dot- COM]
For the most part, the edits in question would not
be disputed by any competent writer; it's a matter
of someone covering his ignorance of proper usage
by claiming spurious "industry" examples. I have
had other technical manuals with egregious errors
used as justification for bizarre punctuation and
tortured syntax. Any thoughts? What's a nice,
non-controversial way of dealing with this issue?