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I agree with Ned's assessment. It sounds like what they want to convey is that there are pros and cons to whatever the subject is.
Paul Hanson
Technical Writer
Quintrex Data Systems http://www.quintrex.com
email: phanson at quintrex.com
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+phanson=quintrex -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+phanson=quintrex -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Ned Bedinger
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 6:13 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Mixing metaphors?
On 01/28/2010 12:19 PM, Deborah Hemstreet wrote:
> OK, Metaphors drive me nuts, and as my family will testify, I always get
> them mixed up...
> So, here is another question for you all.
>
> A client insists that I talk about something being a "two-edged sword"
> (they had written double edged, I can fix that!).
>
> Then they want the text to read, "On the one hand... ; on the other
> hand..." But if its a two edged sword, shouldn't it be one side or edge
> vs the other? And that does not sound right.
>
> How would you handle the sentence (being gentle on the client)?
>
IIRC, it was John Posada who shared a concise approach to creativity in
technical writing: Kill your darlings.
IOW, your client's tendency toward darling metaphor probably only
complicates the message. Start over and write directly at the literal
duality, whatever it is. Show your rewrite to your client and let them
decide what they want.
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Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author,
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Explore CAREER options and paths related to Technical Writing,
learn to create SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS documents, and
get tips on FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION best practices. Free at: http://www.ModernAnalyst.com
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