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> Assuming that two modules are writing to the same general audience
> (accounting clerks and accountants), is it appropriate for a
> departmental
> editor to make edits to keep two separate manuals (say one for an
> Accounts
> Receivable module and one for an Accounts Payable module)
> consistent in tone and type of language?
Yes.
> We've two writers making the following arguments:
>
> 1 - Only the types of style as defined in the departmental style
> guide (i.e.
> punctuation, limited passive voice, bulleted lists formats) should
> be enforced. Anything else is "individual writing style" and
> should be allowed because otherwise a) the writer is stripped of
> creativity,
Who does this writer think they are...Hemmingway? If the writer wants
to do creative writing, let him write the great american novel on his
own time. if the editor is tasked with making sure the documnts are
writen in the same tone (which I agree they should be), then it is
upto the editor to enforce the convention and the writer should be an
adult about it.
> negative impact on the writer-editor relationship.
Get over it.
> 2 - Manuals should be consistent in terminology, phrasing, and
> organization,
> except where differences are required based on the audience. The
> editor
> should edit manuals aimed at the same audience to sound as much as
> possible
> as if they were written by the same person.
Very much agree with this.
=====
John Posada, Senior Technical Writer
"How to be happy in life: Never impose your beliefs
on anyone else and never fry bacon in the nude."
-- Anon mailto:john -at- tdandw -dot- com, 732-259-2874
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