RE: WRONG!..... -ish?

Subject: RE: WRONG!..... -ish?
From: "Cardimon, Craig" <ccardimon -at- M-S-G -dot- com>
To: 'Dan Goldstein' <DGoldstein -at- riveraintech -dot- com>, "'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:27:41 +0000

Indeed. TGIF, everyone.

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Dan Goldstein
Sent: vendredi 3 février 2012 12:21
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: WRONG!..... -ish?

This all began with Kevin's statement: "Speaking as a techwriter...
NEVER use the word 'recommend' or the phrase 'we recommend.'" It was the all-capped "never" that triggered my response ("never" often does).

Suzette and I each offered situations where "we recommend" works best for our documentation and our users.

Obviously, you should do whatever works best for yours. Happy Friday!


-----Original Message-----
From: Porrello, Leonard [mailto:lporrello -at- illumina -dot- com]
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 12:12 PM
To: 'Cardimon, Craig'; 'David Harrison'; Dan Goldstein; 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
Subject: RE: WRONG!..... -ish?

I find the appeal to corporate authority interesting, but I am not convinced. I try to keep my documentation as exclusively focused as possible on the user, the process, and the artifact being documented. In "We recommend," you add the opinion of the company as a fourth element.
I don't think a reader will be devastated or confused by this. However, I don't think it is necessary in most cases. A case in which I do see a need to insert the manufacturer is when you need to limit liability.

Craig said, "'It is best to' still sounds wishy-washy." In the context of a recommendation being made in a user guide, I don't see it. In addition, you can say "best" with confidence and authority. For example, "It is best to avoid eating rotten food." Does this mean that you should never eat rotten food or that avoiding rotten food is always the best thing to do? No, the statement leaves room for a response to mitigating circumstances. It is arguably better to eat some types of rotten food than it is to starve, and I don't think that anyone who reads "it is best to avoid eating rotten food" is going to think, "But what if I am starving?"

David said, "'we recommend' is read as a suggestion from the supplier or manufacturer and not the writer or speaker." I took that as a given.




This message contains confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading, disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify us, by replying to the sender, and delete the original message immediately thereafter. Thank you.

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

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as ccardimon -at- m-s-g -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/ccardimon%40m-s-g.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.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
Information contained in this e-mail transmission is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, do not read, distribute or reproduce this transmission (including any attachments). If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone or email reply.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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-leave -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.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives


Follow-Ups:

References:
WRONG!..... -ish?: From: McLauchlan, Kevin
Re: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: kcbillb2
RE: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: Dan Goldstein
RE: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: Porrello, Leonard
RE: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: Dan Goldstein
RE: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: David Harrison
RE: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: Cardimon, Craig
RE: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: Porrello, Leonard
RE: WRONG!..... -ish?: From: Dan Goldstein

Previous by Author: RE: WRONG!..... -ish?
Next by Author: RE: WRONG!..... -ish?
Previous by Thread: RE: WRONG!..... -ish?
Next by Thread: Re: WRONG!..... -ish?


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


Sponsored Ads