TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Am I the only one that thinks that life would be much easier
if we didn't have to spend our time asking others about
what the standards are? Wouldn't it be nice if there was
a source where one could find this information?
*******************
Caryn also goes on to say that she understands that terms may vary from
field to field, etc.
I reply that the best thing would be a thesaurus, yes, multi-disciplined,
extra-excessively cross-referenced, heavily footnoted, electronic, accessible
to everyone...
That way, if you read something that says Mb, say, you can find out quickly
what different (if any) meanings the term has in different fields, compare with
other versions (MB) and so on.
That way, no one needs to force anyone else to use a specific term a specific
way, or spelling, or whatever: theoretically, they could just add it to the
thesaurus themselves (noting, of course, that is it is THEIR use, and not some
universally true use of the term).
Then, you the reader decide for yourself which meaning is used in the document
you are reading. (You may of course be wrong, but hey, you might be anyway!)
You could call it the "Universal Translator", especially if it is multilingual!
