Re: Rule about not using possessive?

Subject: Re: Rule about not using possessive?
From: "Lurker writer" <lurker_writer -at- hotmail -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2001 08:26:28 -0500

Here's an archive posting from this list that may help...

Technical writing standards do not forbid using apostrophes.
But there are several rules and standards which, when applied,
will lead to a smaller number of apostrophes in the text.

a) Contractions
Often discussed; pretty much all the pros and cons have been
posted to the list in previous discussions.

b) Genitive Constructions
Quite a number of people would advise you against using too
many genitive constructions; the Microsoft Manual of Style, e.g.,
presents "Word's templates" and "the spelling checker's dictionary"
as examples for this incorrect use of possessives (see article
"apostrophes"). In this thread, Tim Altom has also posted an
example to the list in which he substituted "keyboard's plug"
with a prepositional phrase.

Most likely scenario:
It wouldn't surprise me if an editor's advice (don't use contractions,
avoid these genitive constructions) was "re-phrased" by a boss
(and non-linguist) into something like: "Don't use apostrophes!"



_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com

TECH*COMM 2001 Conference, July 15-18 in Washington, DC
The Help Technology Conference, August 21-24 in Boston, MA
Details and online registration at http://www.SolutionsEvents.com


---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: RE: tech pubs organizational question
Next by Author: RE: Rule about not using possessive?
Previous by Thread: RE: Rule about not using possessive?
Next by Thread: RE: Rule about not using possessive?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads