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: Idiot Audience From:Marilynne Smith <mrsmith -at- CTS -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 17 Nov 1997 10:48:44 -0800
Perhaps the problem is thinking of the writing as 8th grade or 6th grade
level. Strong, clear writing, that instructs the user is good whatever the
level you're writing to. You must admit that most of those military terms
are not at that level, nor is the task they have to do. In essence, what
you are doing is not letting the words get in the way. That way, the user
can concentrate on the task.
Let's just think of it as good writing.
Marilynne
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
At 10:53 AM 11/17/97 -0700, Wittel, Teresa wrote:
>In response to Pat's comments about military training, I wanted to add
>my 2 cents:
>
>Many people (not necessarily Pat) assume that military training is
>written to such a basic level because the military is composed of young,
>unskilled (dumb) people. Actually, I even thought it was the case when
>I first started (forgive my new writer arrogance). However, I
>discovered a little more about my audience -- they are expected to
>repair aircraft under "field conditions". Field conditions can be
>described as dark, stormy, freezing, wet, or nasty, blistering "burn the
>skin" weather -- even under heavy bombardment. Under those conditions,
>you don't want to have to take the time to figure out what the writer
>meant. It had better be obvious!
>
>This outlook gave me a new understanding of what my audience required
>from their documentation. I no longer resented writing at a 6th grade
>level or repeating procedures or doing anything that made my user's life
>a little easier. I think some sort of audience needs analysis had BETTER
>be done or you could be missing the whole point.
>
>Teresa Wittel
>NCS Sr. Information Developer
>Mailto: WITTTE -at- ncslink -dot- com
>
>Posts: mailto:techwr-l -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu
>Commands: mailto:listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g. SIGNOFF TECHWR-L)
>Archives: http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html,
>Subjects: JOB:, QUESTION:, SUMMARY:, ANNOUNCE:, or none of these.
>
>
>
>
---------------------------------------------------------------
Marilynne Smith
Writing, Editing, and Online Documentation
---------------------------------------------------------------
