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A few weeks ago I was working on a document with an SME who spoke English as
a third language (the first two were French and C++). There was one long and
complex sentence that I wanted to rewrite and he insisted said exactly what
he wanted it to say. (There were several, actually, but one was particularly
memorable.) We went back and forth over it two or three times before we
finally managed a rewrite that was (a) acceptable, clear English (b) meant
what the SME wanted it to mean.
I tore at my hair a few times: so did he (I mean he tore his hair, not
mine). Mutual respect, however, carried us through, even though it was
eight-thirty at night and both of us wanted to go home but we had to finish
the doc before tomorrow morning.
Clear accurate use of language is important, otherwise what are we here for?
Just my tuppence ha'penny.
Jane Carnall
Technical Writer, Compaq, UK
Unless stated otherwise, these opinions are mine, and mine alone.
