RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

Subject: RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken
From: "Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>
To: "Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>, "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 15:14:21 -0600

Lauren wrote:

> For legal writing, technical editing could result in a legal
> change to the content. Suppose a technical editor adheres to
> the serial comma rule that there is not a comma after the
> second to last list item?

The serial comma rule _I_ learned said to put that comma in there.

> Now a seller can contract to send "widgets, cogs and
> sprockets or dingies."
> What is being shipped?
>
> Is it [widgets AND cogs AND sprockets] OR [dingies]?
>
> Is it [widgets] OR [cogs AND sprockets] OR [dingies]?
>
> Is it [widgets] AND [cogs] AND [sprockets OR dingies]?
>
> A technical writer without the requisite legal education may
> miss this distinction. Legal writing is a different animal
> from technical writing.

Any technical writer/editor who "miss(es) this distinction" and needa a
"legal education" to disambiguate that list is a pi**-poor technical
writer/editor.

Now, can we call off the debate over how many definitions of "technical"
can dance on the head of a pin, and just agree to disagree? :-)

Richard


------
Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------




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RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken: From: Lauren

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