Re: We recommend

[Dick Gaskill <dickg -at- AG3D -dot- COM>]

The real reason not to use "we recommend", or "it is recommended" is
that they do not say WHO recommends whatever is being recommended.   It
makes the information vague and possibly doubtful to the reader.  A
better way to write it is, "(company name) recommends", or if a specific
person, committee, etc., is recommending something, use the name of that
person, committee, etc.  The reader gets a complete, clear meaning, and
could even contact the comnpany, person, etc. if they had questions.

When I see "it is recommended", I can't help but think of either a
politician or salesman deliberately using vague terms to avoid the
responsibility for whatever they are recommending.

Dick Gaskill
Tech Pubs Mgr.
AccelGraphics, Inc.

        ----------
        From:  Connie Boltz [SMTP:ccco -at- HOTMAIL -dot- COM]
        Sent:  Wednesday, June 17, 1998 8:29 PM
        To:  TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
        Subject:  Re: We recommend

        Here's my $0.02 and humble opinion. I don't use the
        phrase "we recommend" because tech docs are nearly
        always written in second person (for good reason), and
        therefore using "we" would cause switching between
        second person and first person within a doc. Although I
        avoid passive voice and undefined pronouns whenever
        possible, in the case of the phrase "it is recommended,"
        I don't think the undefined subject/pronoun causes
        confusion in most instances.
        Connie Boltz
        Freelance Editor
        ccco -at- hotmail -dot- com