Re: proper terms/usage

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

I would not feel comfortable staking out a position like this if I felt I lacked 
sufficient knowledge to choose the "correct" term and back up my choice to the 
SMEs without having to first ask the members of a technical writing forum to 
vote on it.  Perhaps "Spectrum" feels the same way.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>
> I meant to put in my 2 cents when I saw Spectrum Writing's "playing
> Switzerland" line. Why is the tech writer "playing Switzerland" in a
> matter of language usage? Doesn't the tech writer _write_ the docs?
>
> I'd send an email message to both SMEs _informing_ them of _my_
> decision, and telling them it's been added to the style guide (for which
> Tech Pubs is responsible, not SMEs).
>
> SME stands for "subject matter expert" -- not "technical communication
> expert." Once the subject matter issues are clear and the meanings of
> the two words are understood, the decision should be the wordsmith's.
>
> Unless he or she _likes_ being a glorified secretary.

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