TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Usage- verbal or oral From:"Susan W. Gallagher" <sgallagher -at- STARBASECORP -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 14 Mar 1995 10:28:07 -0800
> MEMO Usage: verbal or oral
> Hi, everyone.
> Do you ever feel just a little exasperated by the popular confusion between
the
> terms verbal and oral? As in "She told me verbally"? As opposed to what, using
> body language?
> Or how about " it was a verbal contract." Well, I always thought those were
the
> best kind.
> Or is this just the language in transition?
I dunno, maybe I'm off-base here. But I always considered
"oral" to be "by mouth" (as in oral/rectal thermometer)
and "verbal" to be "with spoken word" (as in "a verbal
contract isn't worth the paper it's written on").
-Sue Gallagher
StarBase Corp, Irvine CA
sgallagher -at- starbasecorp -dot- com
