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.
Subject:Re: Manuals Written in Non-American English From:s_dale <s_dale -at- CBLTECH -dot- DEMON -dot- CO -dot- UK> Date:Wed, 21 Aug 1996 15:34:03 GMT
Hi,
I hail from across the (not a) pond (the Atlantic for those who are not in
North America or Britain - another culture thing) so I shall offer you my
comments. (I have also worked quite a lot in the USA.)
I disagree with your point 5 - see above example.
Don't make up any words! I should hope not! Although I have heard and used
"functionality" so much that I can no longer remember the alternative!
I can't imagine why you would want to use "pastrami and sauerkraut on brown
pumpernickel" in technical writing!
I don't know if you can patent a list but it would be a useful one. Of course,
there are also all the different words used which many people know already:
fender=bumper
truck=boot and so on for car parts
and some more obscure and subtle ones:
do you know what a fortnight is? (2 weeks=14 nights)
I have observed that Americans use "also" much more often than the British, who
say "too", although this may be a regional thing.
licence (US) could be licence or license (ditto practice)
I wonder if the British-English writers are more aware than Americans of the
differences, because more films are American than British and more
spell-checkers are too! I find it a fascinating subject.
PS. leave out the football (yawn), sorry soccer!
In your message dated Wednesday 21, August 1996 you wrote :
> > I know several regular contributors hail from across a pond. Any
> insights from them or anyone else would be most helpful.
> 1. Put a "U" in colour and honour.
> 2. Never use the word "gotten".
> 3. Don't make any words up.
> 4. Avoid using words which other people have made up
> (like "functionality").
> 5. Remember, full stops and commas go outside of brackets
> and quotes.
> 6. Avoid nasty jargon, like "ballpark figure", "touch base",=20
> "pastrami and sauerkraut on brown pumpernickel" etc.
> That should just about do it. If you're in any doubt, give your work to =
> an English editor who, I'm sure, will be more than happy to anglicise =
> (not "anglicize"!) it.
> Hmmm ... perhaps I could patent this list.
> manchesterunitedmanchesterunitedmanchesterunitedmanchesterunited
> Mike Bygrave (bygravem -at- intuitive -dot- co -dot- uk)
> Standard disclaimer - Please don't sue me
> 1966 was a great year for English football - Cantona was born
> manchesterunitedmanchesterunitedmanchesterunitedmanchesterunited
--
Regards
Sue Dale
TECHWR-L List Information
To send a message about technical communication to 2500+ list readers,
E-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send administrative commands
ALL other questions or problems concerning the list
should go to the listowner, Eric Ray, at ejray -at- ionet -dot- net -dot-
