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.
Many writers of technical documents for "professional" types of equipment
seem to fear "talking down" to their reader. This is reflected in
comments I get from my students of technical writing. I think that there is
a difference between "writing to a seventh grader" and "writing at the
seventh grade level". The first "talks down" to the reader and the second
respects the reader's needs and wishes for a simple, clear and concise
technical text. But at best, that difference is a hazy distinction and I
think that common sense is still the best indicator to follow.
Ed Hull
Professional English
Vught, The Netherlands
ethull -at- worldaccess -dot- nl
