Re: Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files

Subject: Re: Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files
From: Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>
To: Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 23:03:53 -0700

Geoff Hart wrote:
> Dan Goldstein noted: <<As Gene already pointed out yesterday on
> TECHWR-L, this isn't technical writing. Not even close.>>
>
> Did Gene post it there? Sorry. I never saw the message. (I'm getting
> the impression that not all techwr-l mail is getting past my ISP.
> Again. <sigh>)
>

Gene's comment was in reference to a Washington Post (WP) column linked
by K Darges (KD) on 5/24, subject Re: Worst.Sentence.Ever

Here it is if you lost it:

http://www.techwr-l.com/archives/0705/techwhirl-0705-01144.html

Attempting to clarify, Dan was responding to your post of a link to a WP
column that you sent on 5/25. It was the same as the WP column the list
got on 5/24 from KD.

> In any event, I'm afraid I must dispute your point. "Technical" has
> its roots in the Greek word "techne", which means an "art"; more
> recently (i.e., since the 20th century?), "technical" has taken on
> the meaning of writing in any discipline that has its own
> standardized jargon. So yes, financial marketing prose is technical
> communication... just not necessarily a form we're all familiar with
> or would approve of.

The WP column does meet your test for technical communication, and
Dilbert does too, but I'll see your disputed point and raise you an
unequivocal one--it continues to be not technical writing.
Pontifications are now closed.

HTH.

--Ned

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

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.


References:
Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files: From: Geoff Hart
Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files: From: Geoff Hart

Previous by Author: Re: Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files
Next by Author: Re: Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files
Previous by Thread: Re: This too is technical communication
Next by Thread: RE: Technical writing for finance: one for the Friday files


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


Sponsored Ads