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Subject:Re: Pet Peeves From:"Susan W Gallagher" <susanwg -at- gmail -dot- com> To:TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:59:18 -0700
On 3/15/07, Combs, Richard <richard -dot- combs -at- polycom -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Suzette Leeming
>
> > What's wrong with avoiding pronouns/gender issues by
> > rewording it to something like this:
> >
> > "Any problems with the setting can be fixed using RegEdit."
>
> You're avoiding pronouns by writing in passive voice, thus removing the
> actor from the action and making the object of the action into the
> subject of the sentence.
>
> I believe the technical term for that style of writing is "yucky." ;-)
Not just yucky, also difficult for the dyslexic and pre-lingual deaf to
process (google search for references = "passive voice" dyslexia), so you
cut out a fairly hefty chunk of your audience as well.
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