Re: "via" - why often verboten ?

Subject: Re: "via" - why often verboten ?
From: Karin Matchett <wordcraft -at- karinmatchett -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2017 13:48:03 -0500

I'm a relatively new lurker and not actually a technical writer, but this is a n
onstandard definition of "passive voice" in my view. I don't consider either of
these (the original or the rewrite) to constitute passive voice. They're an indi
rect way of phrasing the thing, but not passive voice.

Karin


--

Karin Matchett, Ph.D.
[1]http://www.tomorrowsfootprint.com

On 8/3/2017 10:44 AM, David Artman wrote:

In that specific example, I think that "Share a Custom View using a
URL" is more clear and easier to translate.

Yes, that rewrite is still in passive voice; it could be "Use a URL to
send a Custom View". Also, gerunds can be a translation issue as well:
THREE reasons to go with "Use a URL to send a Custom View". ANNND that
works with the typical 'swing thought' for titling a task topic: the
title completes the phrase "How do I...?" But does the communication
method matter more to the reader than the goal? Perhaps "Send a Custom
View' is the actual ideal; and let the fact that a URL is the
communication method 'emerge' in the shortdesc/intro and in the body?

[RE the earlier post about weirdness in IBM Style Guide, they think
translation first and foremost (35 languages in my last post there).
You can get into all kinds of issues once right-to-left or vertical (or
both!) languages enter the mix. "Below" and "above", for instance, are
verboten.]

HTH;

References

1. http://www.tomorrowsfootprint.com/
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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


References:
RE: "via" - why often verboten ?: From: David Artman

Previous by Author: Re: "new experience" in Confluence Cloud (Robert Lauriston)
Next by Author: Re: active vs. passive
Previous by Thread: RE: "via" - why often verboten ?
Next by Thread: Dictionary or Grammar app


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


Sponsored Ads