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'm pretty familiar with The Associated Press Stylebook. I used it in
college and afterwards when I was a newswriter for two years. And,
just for the heck of it, I still consult it every once in awhile. But
I never depend on it anymore. It is, after all, a style guide for
newspaper writing. Not always, but often enough, newswriting style
and technical writing style differ, I have found.
And so in the case of "who" vs. "that." As I understand, "The man
that did such and such" and "The man who did such and such" are
equally correct. It's just a matter of which you prefer. The
Associated Press prefers "who." But that's their taste and,
therefore, their guideline for newswriters who choose to follow their
style.
Although I admit that I, too, would prefer "The dog that bit the man .
. . ." and "The man who hit the dog . . . .", that is my taste and
does not mean that "The man that hit the dog . . . ." is incorrect.
