Re: Term "tech writing"

Subject: Re: Term "tech writing"
From: Romay Jean Sitze <rositze -at- NMSU -dot- EDU>
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 17:28:21 -0700

I have more and more frequently seen the term "Information Specialist"
used to replace technical writer.

On Sat, 25 Mar 1995, Bev Parks wrote:

> Matthew Schenker <Mattschenk -at- AOL -dot- COM> wrote--
> I hate the term "technical writing." I always use the term "professional
> writing," not because it really matters to me, but because people hear the
> term "technical writing" and they think it's all about:

> Put screw (1) into hole (2).
> Place bracket (12) over holes (2) and tighten screw (2 and 3)

> When it's much more creative than that.
> ==============
> So does this make you a "professional writer" instead of a
> "technical writer"?

> It's an interesting idea, but the problem with it that I see is
> that you've taken yourself out of a specialized group and put
> yourself into a more generalized group. For example, I would
> consider all bestselling authors to be professional writers. But
> few of them can call themselves technical writers.

> Here's a spur-of-the-moment opinion: I can understand the
> potential identity problem between the words "professional" and
> "technical." Professional sounds white collar and technical
> sounds blue collar.

> I propose "technical communications specialist." How's that? ;-)

> Or, to be more specific:
> Technical Communications Specialist (Writing)

> (This format for job titles will look familiar to anyone who has
> worked in the federal service.)

> =*= Beverly Parks =*= bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil =*=
> =*= "These opinions are mine, not my employer's." =*=
> =*= =*= =*=


RoMay Sitze People are persuaded more
rositze -at- nmsu -dot- edu by the depth of your conviction
than the height of your logic,
More by your enthusiasm
than any proof you can offer.
-author unknown-


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