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Style advice for technical writing. Dr. Arnett WRIT 3140. Advice from plainlanguage.gov analyze your audience(s) address separate audiences… separately. http://skinnydip.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/hipster.jpg. http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/the-golden-girls.jpg.
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Style advice for technical writing Dr. ArnettWRIT 3140
Advice from plainlanguage.gov • analyze your audience(s) • address separate audiences… separately
http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/the-golden-girls.jpghttp://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/the-golden-girls.jpg
Advice from plainlanguage.gov • analyze your audience(s) • address separate audiences… separately • get to the point quickly • state the purpose, state the main point, and omit background info
http://www.nassaulibrary.org/centreblog/girl_reading_in_chair_hg_wht.gifhttp://www.nassaulibrary.org/centreblog/girl_reading_in_chair_hg_wht.gif
Advice from plainlanguage.gov • analyze your audience(s) • address separate audiences… separately • get to the point quickly • state the purpose, state the main point, and omit background info • use “you” / imperative voice
Advice from plainlanguage.gov • analyze your audience(s) • address separate audiences… separately • get to the point quickly • state the purpose, state the main point, and omit background info • use “you” / imperative voice • use active voice and active verbs
Specific advice on language use (prepare to take notes)
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. It had an unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, it would rupture. Spilled gas would cause a fire.
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. It had an unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, it would rupture. Spilled gas would cause a fire. lack of end focus
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. It had an unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, it would rupture. Spilled gas would cause a fire. lack of end focus
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. This car’s flaw was its unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, it would rupture. Spilled gas would cause a fire. lack of end focus partially fixed
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. This car’s flaw was its unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, it would rupture. Spilled gas would cause a fire. lack of end focus partially fixed
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. This car’s flaw was its unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, this weak neck would rupture. Spilled gas would cause a fire. lack of end focus partially fixed
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. This car’s flaw was its unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, this weak neck would rupture. Spilled gas would cause a fire. lack of end focus partially fixed
The Ford Pinto is a deeply flawed car from the 1970s. This car’s flaw was its unreinforced gas tank filler neck. If a rear-end collision occurred, this weak neck would rupture, spill gas, and start a fire. lack of end focus fixed
Avoid nonsense antecedents. antecedent = the thing a pronoun refers to pronoun = a word that substitutes for a noun
When the user presses Alt+F4, it will shut down. nonsense antecedent
When the user presses Alt+F4, the computer will shut down. nonsense antecedent fixed
The Norton Antivirus website updates your virus protection software automatically, once a week. This protects your computer from new viruses.
The Norton Antivirus website updates your virus protection software automatically, once a week. This protects your computer from new viruses. vague pronoun reference
The Norton Antivirus website updates your virus protection software automatically, once a week. This update protects your computer from new viruses. vague pronoun reference fixed
Match pronoun cases. case = the form of a word that shows its relationship to other words in the sentence singular/plural (I, he, we, they) subjective/objective/possessive (I, me, mine) relative (that, which) interrogative (who, whose, whom) indefinite (everybody, nobody)
It’s common for a 26-year-old to be more mature than they were at 19.
It’s common for a 26-year-old to be more mature than they were at 19.
It’s common for a 26-year-old to be more mature than they were at 19. pronoun case mismatch
It’s common for 26-year-olds to be more mature than they were at 19. It’s common for a 26-year-old to be more mature than she was at 19. pronoun case mismatch fixed
Jimmy and me should have the job done in ten minutes. pronoun case mismatch
Jimmy and I should have the job done in ten minutes. pronoun case mismatch fixed
Cut down noun strings. noun string = a collection of nouns, one after the other
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task.
Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development is an important task. noun string
Developing safety procedures for underground mine workers is an important task. noun string fixed
Change nominalizations into nouns or verbs. nominalization = a verb, adjective, or other part of speech that’s been turned into a noun -tion, -ure, -ability, -ness, -ity, -ance, -ence, -ing, -ment