Re: RE: Six elementary rules for writing good english

["Edwin Skau" <eddy -dot- skau -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Oh, I thought Lynne's title was about me...

Anyway, the use of jargon is not such a bad idea sometimes.  Especially when
what some consider jargon happens to be treated as a 'simple, everyday term'
in some professional contexts. Used wisely, it can help you build instant
rapport with your reader and convey your message more efficiently.

Edwin



On 8/6/07, poshedly -at- bellsouth -dot- net <poshedly -at- bellsouth -dot- net> wrote:
>
> Methinks the George Orwell quotation(s) were written by a gentleman using
> the accepted rules of grammar for his time period (first half of the 20th
> century). The use of commas, for instance, was far more common. It seems
> that nowadays, we (as a society) try to get away with as little as possible,
> i.e., cutting back on the use of these little buggers.
>
> For instance, the use of a comma after "mind" (in "Keep in mind
> George...") is one of those fuzzy areas of the English language. When used
> as a synonym for the word "and" (for instance, in a series of objects
> separated by a comma), you're correct. But sometimes, the comma is used to
> underscore the importance of what was just stated. As in this case. (Oops!
> an incomplete sentence!) <grin>
>
> Man-oh-man! You can TELL it's a Monday!!
>
> For those who haven't yet heard about or read it, get yourself a copy of
> "Eats Shoots and Leaves" by Lynne Truss. It's great!!
>
> http://www.eatsshootsandleaves.com/esl.html
>
> -- Kenpo
>
>
>
>
> >
> > From: "Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>
> > Date: 2007/08/06 Mon AM 10:30:03 EDT
> > To: "'techwr-l'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> > Subject: RE: Six elementary rules for writing good english
> >
> >
> > There are several errors in the paragraph that introduces the list; I
> find
> > it hard to believe that came from The Economist.
> >
> > They include:
> >
> > - "Thought I will share..." (should be "Thought I would share..." (It's
> okay
> > to drop the subject "I" in e-mail, but only in e-mail.)
> > - "as I found them" (should be "because" I found them)
> > - "..want to say, then say..." (should be "...want to say, and then
> say..."
> > ("then" is not a conjunction)
> > - No comma should come after "mind" in "Keep in mind George...")
> >
> >
> > Bonnie Granat
> > http://www.GranatEdit.com
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:
> > > techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > > [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
> > > .com] On Behalf Of Raj Machhan
> > > Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 7:46 AM
> > > To: techwr-l
> > > Subject: Six elementary rules for writing good english
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > >
> > > George Orwell has captured the essence of good English
> > > writing in these six
> > > rules. These are as relevant today as they were during
> > > Orwell's time.Thought
> > > I will share these with you as I found them especially applicable to
> > > technical documentation:
> > > Clarity of writing usually follows clarity of thought. So
> > > think what you
> > > want to say, then say it as simply as possible. Keep in mind, George
> > > Orwell's six elementary rules ("Politics and the English
> > > Language", 1946):
> > >
> > >    1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of
> > > speech, which you
> > >    are used to seeing in print.
> > >    2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
> > >    3. If it is possible to cut out a word, always cut it out.
> > >    4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
> > >    5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a
> > > jargon word if
> > >    you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
> > >    6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright
> > >    barbarous.
> > >
> > > Best
> > >
> > > Raj
> > >
> > > Courtesy: The Economist
> >
> >
>
>
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