TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I prefer not to use "via" for the same reason that I avoid all latin terms... to me, it sounds old-fashioned/too academic and doesn't fit with the more colloquial plain-English writing style that I use (and I think that's why tech writing style guides tend to advise against using it.) So I use "through".
But yes, if you use "via" I don't think anyone is going to not know what it means.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Monique Semp
Sent: Wednesday, August 2, 2017 11:54 AM
To: TechWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Subject: "via" - why often verboten ?
Hello, WR-L-ers,
Pubs style guides have long said to avoid âviaâ in favor of âbyâ. And in the case of MMoS (Microsoft Manual of Style), it says that âviaâ implies a geographic context,and to use the more specific term, âbyâ, âthroughâ, orâ' âby means ofâ.â
But dictionary.com has the 2nde definition as âby the agency or instrumentality ofâ. So perhaps âviaâ is evolving?
I hope so because I really want to use âviaâ to mean, âby means ofâ. Itâs much pithier, and I doubt could be misunderstood.
Thoughts?
-Monique
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com
