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Subject:Re: grammar term From:Nancy Smith <smithcds -at- ICI -dot- NET> Date:Tue, 17 Aug 1999 15:46:46 -0400
Hi,
I'd rather say we shouldn't use any pronouns and
then let one or two slip in, than to say "fine" to
pronouns! Too often only the writer and some others
directly on the project have a clear understanding
of the reference. The rest of us just guess and
wonder. In fact, sometimes a writer has been known
to use a pronoun because the writer him/herself
doesn't even know what noun to use! I've done that
on rare occasions -- probably received the
information that way and I'm either tired or under a
tight deadline -- and someone invariably comes to me
and asks what I mean -- and I don't have a clue!
Nancy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Technical Writers List; for all Technical
Communication issues
> [mailto:TECHWR-L -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu]On Behalf Of
Murrell, Thomas
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:03 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu
> Subject: Re: grammar term
>
>
> To be REALLY technical, the "this" in the examples
below is
> an unreferenced
> pronoun, which I would agree should be a no-no in
technical
> (and I hope all)
> written communications.
>
> I really hope that Nancy didn't mean that we
should not use
> any pronouns in
> tech writing. Other than that nit, I agree with
Nancy completely
> Tom Murrell
> Senior Grammar Freak, Alliance Data Systems, Inc.
> CAD4A - (614)729-4364
> Fax: (614)729-4499
>mailto:tmurrell -at- alldata -dot- net
>
> > ----------
> > From: Nancy Smith[SMTP:smithcds -at- ICI -dot- NET]
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:02 PM
> > To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> > Subject: Re: grammar term
> >
> > As used in your examples, "this" is a pronoun.
> > Using such a pronoun is a no-no in tech writing,
but
> > using "this" as an adjective followed by a noun
is
> > fine.
> >
> > Sorry, but we grammar-freaks find it hard to
stop
> > with one simple answer...!
> >
> > Nancy
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Technical Writers List; for all
Technical
> > Communication issues
> > > [mailto:TECHWR-L -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu]On
Behalf Of
> > Dan Roberts
> > > Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 11:29 AM
> > > To: TECHWR-L -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu
> > > Subject: grammar term
> > >
> > >
> > > This message is in MIME format. Since your
mail
> > reader does
> > > not understand
> > > this format, some or all of this message may
not
> > be legible.
> > >
> > > ------_=_NextPart_001_01BEE8C5.2F2A7920
> > > Content-Type: text/plain;
> > > charset="iso-8859-1"
> > >
> > > of course I dont have either my strunk&white
or my
> > Harbrace
> > > when I need
> > > them.
> > >
> > > what's the term that refers to "this" in the
> > following sentences:
> > > This is one of the product's features.
> > > This is why he's still living in a 5th-floor
> > walkup.
> > > This is why you always add an extra pinch of
> > garlic power to
> > > chicken soup.
> > >
> > > TIA for the help!
> > >
> > > Dan Roberts
> > > droberts -at- isogon -dot- com
> > >
> > >
> > > ------_=_NextPart_001_01BEE8C5.2F2A7920
> > > Content-Type: text/html;
> > > charset="iso-8859-1"
> > >
> > > <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML
3.2//EN">
> > > <HTML>
> > > <HEAD>
> > > <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type"
> > CONTENT="text/html;
> > > charset=iso-8859-1">
> > > <META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange
Server
> > version
> > > 5.5.2448.0">
> > > <TITLE>grammar term</TITLE>
> > > </HEAD>
> > > <BODY>
> > >
> > > <P><FONT SIZE=2>of course I dont have either
my
> > > strunk&white or my Harbrace when I need
them.
> > </FONT>
> > > </P>
> > >
> > > <P><FONT SIZE=2>what's the term that refers to
> > > "this" in the following
> > sentences:</FONT>
> > > <BR><FONT SIZE=2>This is one of the product's
> > features.</FONT>
> > > <BR><FONT SIZE=2>This is why he's still living
in
> > a 5th-floor
> > > walkup.</FONT>
> > > <BR><FONT SIZE=2>This is why you always add an
> > extra pinch of
> > > garlic power to chicken soup. </FONT>
> > > </P>
> > >
> > > <P><FONT SIZE=2>TIA for the help!</FONT>
> > > </P>
> > >
> > > <P><FONT SIZE=2>Dan Roberts</FONT>
> > > <BR><FONT SIZE=2>droberts -at- isogon -dot- com </FONT>
> > > </P>
> > >
> > > </BODY>
> > > </HTML>
> > > ------_=_NextPart_001_01BEE8C5.2F2A7920--
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
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