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.
Re: [Fwd: Re: Avoid the Semicolon in Tech Writing?]
Subject:Re: [Fwd: Re: Avoid the Semicolon in Tech Writing?] From:dmbrown -at- brown-inc -dot- com To:TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sun, 17 Aug 2003 11:10:23 -0700
As I said, you need semicolons to make *this* sentence unambiguous:
Your choices are A, B, C, and D, or E.
Sean Brierley wrote:
>
> I'd use a table.
So might I, especially given a more complex list; but that sentence is
not a table. Using a table is not an option if you want to write *that*
sentence.
>
> Dunno, dood, sounds complex.
Um...apparently too much so.
--David
P.S. I never said, nor do I believe to be true, that the only reason
to use semicolons is because the boss tells you to do so.
HTML Indexer 4 is still the easiest way to create and maintain indexes
for web sites, intranets, HTML Help, JavaHelp, and other HTML documents.
HTML Indexer 4 includes fully integrated cross-references, target frames
and windows, multiple-file output, "one-step accept" of default entries,
and more!