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Subject:Re: Really caring about communication From:Andrew Plato <gilliankitty -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 31 Dec 2003 09:43:58 -0800 (PST)
"Michael West" wrote ...
> Yes, the accuracy, of course. AND the usefulness. AND the clarity.
> Ignore ANY of those, and you're not a tech writer but a hack -- deny
> it all you like.
>
> In order to clarify the real issues here, might I suggest debating the
question
> in this form: Which is the most important leg of a three-legged stool?
That's how tech writer's view it. The rest of the world doesn't. The rest of
the world thinks grammar is a convention that is easily cleaned up as needed.
Something that is incidental. An afterthought. Once the content is correct,
getting the grammar and the styles cleaned up is easy. Very easy.
In your stool example, grammar and style are the paint and packaging of the
stool. The three legs are all content. The stool can still exist and function
without the paint and packaging. It might not be as effective or useful, but it
still works.
Its about priorities. Grammar and style should consume a tiny fraction of a
tech writer's effort and time. Subject matter accuracy should overwhelmingly
consume a writer's efforts.
Furthermore, it isn't about denying anything. Grammar is important. Its just
not as important as content. The size of your shoe is important, but not to
some dude in Arkansas who has to install Exchange 2003.
Perspective, Michael. Perspective.
Andrew Plato
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