Re: and then

Subject: Re: and then
From: "Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 16:26:30 -0400


eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com wrote:
> Bonnie Granat wrote on 09/01/2004 04:02:31 PM:
>> Professional writers and editors need to either use professional
>> standards or give up the right to call themselves "professionals."
>
> I realise you're heavily into editing, but honestly. "Professionals"
> that have "professional" standards are governed by standards bodies.
>

Technical writers need to use accepted grammar or risk having their text
judged accordingly.


> It's a long way off before we have a professional code of conduct that
> covers commas, gerunds, and prescriptive grammar.
>

I'm talking about standard usage of English.

> Was Shakespeare a "professional" writer? Wasn't much of his grammar
> questionable by many measures?
>
> Bandying about the term "professional" as an argument is just a hollow
> shell and a reactionary excuse for a justification.
>

I don't think so. Standard English grammar is particularly necessary for
technical communication.

> Much of what I write is telegraphic (and thus often of questionable
> grammar). But I can assure you it is all highly professional.
>

It isn't if your grammar is nonstandard.


Bonnie Granat
www.GranatEdit.com
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Mobile: 617-319-7461
Office: 617-354-7084



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Re: and then: From: eric . dunn

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