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In terms of translation concerns, surely any term like "via" that exists in English dictionaries isn't going to be a problem?
It's really only colloquialisms that you have to watch out for (although I can't think of any colloquialisms that are appropriate to tech writing anyway).
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of sharipunyon -at- gmail -dot- com
Sent: Wednesday, August 2, 2017 3:26 PM
To: Robin Whitmore <rwhitmore -at- weebly -dot- com>
Cc: TechWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Subject: Re: "via" - why often verboten ?
I tend to write for the lowest common denominator, if possible. So I don't think about what an adult would understand, but a 7th grader or non-native speaker.
I would avoid via for that reason. Also potential translation issues.
> On Aug 2, 2017, at 12:01 PM, Robin Whitmore <rwhitmore -at- weebly -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Here's an interesting post from The Content Wrangler about the death
> of the formal voice:
>http://thecontentwrangler.com/2017/07/10/the-formal-business-voice-is-
> dead/
>
> While it may be a bit over the top, I do agree that anything that
> makes the writing more concise and easier to understand is best.
> Without knowing the context, I don't think "via" would cause
> confusion. The only caveat might be translation.
>
> On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 8:53 AM, Monique Semp
> <monique -dot- semp -at- earthlink -dot- net>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello, WR-L-ers,
>>
>> Pubs style guides have long said to avoid âviaâ in favor of âbyâ. And
>> in the case of MMoS (Microsoft Manual of Style), it says that âviaâ
>> implies a geographic context,and to use the more specific term, âbyâ, âthroughâ, orâ'
>> âby means ofâ.â
>>
>> But dictionary.com has the 2nde definition as âby the agency or
>> instrumentality ofâ. So perhaps âviaâ is evolving?
>>
>> I hope so because I really want to use âviaâ to mean, âby means ofâ.
>> Itâs much pithier, and I doubt could be misunderstood.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>> -Monique
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