Re: "via" - why often verboten ?

Subject: Re: "via" - why often verboten ?
From: Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2017 17:05:29 -0700

âViaâ is not often used in everyday speech and it sounds lofty. User documentation should use language used by its users. If the audience of your documentation uses âviaâ as an everyday word, then use it.

In one case, the word via is used to show how to get from one place to another, like saying, âyou get to I-5 via I-80 and not Business 80.â If your audience would give that direction, then use it. If your audience is more likely to say something to the effect of, âyou get to I-5 from I-80 and not Business 80â or âtake I-80 to get to I-5 because Business 80 will send you through town and chaos,â then do not use âvia.â

âViaâ has the tendency of requiring more words to make a point or of winding the directions through a maze of discussion when a straight to the point direction would suffice. Like, âAccess the help menu via the help link on the screen,â rather than, âClick the help link on the screen to access the help menu.â


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives


Follow-Ups:

References:
"via" - why often verboten ?: From: Monique Semp

Previous by Author: Re: active vs. passive
Next by Author: Re: "via" - why often verboten ?
Previous by Thread: Re: "via" - why often verboten ?
Next by Thread: Re: "via" - why often verboten ?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads