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:Use of "your" From:Kris Olberg <kjolberg -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 16 Jul 1997 20:36:53 -0500
I was taught years ago--too many years, actually--that a writer or
interface designer should not refer to items as being possessed, such as in
"your mail," "your keyboard," "your clients," "your machine," etc.
My questions about this are:
(1) why did we adopt this convention? (like I said, it's been too many
years for me)
(2) is this convention still widely practiced? was it ever widely
practiced?
(3) why or why not?
Regards...Kris
-------------------------
kolberg -at- actamed -dot- com
kris -at- olberg -dot- com
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
