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Subject:Re: Technical writing in a higher ed environment From:"Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sun, 21 Mar 2004 14:56:17 -0800
It's been a while since I worked with the AP guide, so maybe they've
updated it since then, but from my point of view the problem with
using it in technical writing was not so much what it required (most
of which are perfectly valid grammatical rules), but what it omitted,
such as mathematical and chemical formulae, procedureal/instructional
formatting and, more recently, hyperlinks and other online formatting.
For a lone tech writer, the good news is that in the absence of
requirements for these things in an AP environment, the writer can
pretty much do as he/she pleases. For the publications manager, the
bad news is that in the absence of requirements for these things in
an AP enviroment, the writer can pretty much do as he/she pleases.
Gene Kim-Eng
Al Geist wrote:
> After working at writing gigs for nearly 30 years, some of it as a
> business reporter, some as a video producer, but most as a technical
> writer, I can say that the AP style guide is a good reference. So is
> the Chicago Manual of Style, Microsoft's style guide, etc. I have
> never found any of them to get in the way of good, solid
> communication, and isn't that the main goal of a technical writer.
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