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: when is it right to be wrong? From:Sue Ahrenhold <SAhrenhold -at- IpdSolution -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 5 Apr 2002 14:51:04 -0500
Style manuals are intended to be guidelines, not handcuffs. I sometimes
find, though, that I really haven't really structured my sentence very well,
and that is why I am seriously thinking about deep-sixing the style manual.
For example, if I am trying to write in passive voice, it's usually because
I haven't really figured out what the subject of my sentence is. So I have
to go back and rethink what it is I'm trying to say. One of my co-workers
is always leaving a preposition at the end of a sentence (Our manager HATES
that). Most of the time, I can edit her stuff (and omit several words) by
changing the preposition construct to an adjective.
But, there are occasions when the passive voice really is the right way to
say what I want to say. Maybe once a document. The rule is there for the
other 999 cases where I'm just trying to be lazy.
Is it justifiable to commit a MS Manual of Style faux pas for
the sake of user comprehension?
I put the question to you, oh counsel of elders, is it more important to be
proper or understood?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Free copy of ARTS PDF Tools when you register for the PDF
Conference by April 30. Leading-Edge Practices for Enterprise
& Government, June 3-5, Bethesda,MD. www.PDFConference.com
Are you using Doc-to-Help or ForeHelp? Switch to RoboHelp for Word for $249
or to RoboHelp Office for only $499. Get the PC Magazine five-star rated
Help authoring tool for less! Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr
---
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.
