atw: Re: Into Linguistic semantics. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

I have to add my two cents worth here.. usually I'll stay out of all
these discussions but as a fairly new techwriter (2yrs 4mths) this
reminded me of something back at uni.
In my functional grammar unit, I remember our lecturer saying that the
words 'put' and 'got' were an 'abuse of the English language' and anyone
that used them in an essay/report would automatically fail the
assignment.
I write manuals for hardware and software, and I can't say we use the
word 'put' in anything. It's just too colloquial, and in my opinion it
just doesn't sound good, and can have a lot of meanings. I'd use "Add"
..it's not necessarily formal, it's clearer, and it sounds better.
I agree with Michelle below.
 
 
 


________________________________

From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hallett,
Michelle
Sent: Thursday, 1 March 2007 10:23
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Into Linguistic semantics. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]


I'm not sure I agree with Peter. He says 'put' is short and meaningful.
It's not especially meaningful, it is like 'get', it gets (use
intentional) used in a variety of sentences where you can't think of a
specific word. That's why it's common in spoken language. 'Add' is
probably a better choice, especially in Warren's context, and as you
point out Howard, not too stilted. While I agree that some words are too
stilted (meaning rarely used and therefore tending to be used only
formally) for use in technical documentation, I do think 'stiltedness'
is also a factor of how a word is structured into a sentence. If you can
use a more formal word in a context that clearly conveys its meaning,
then why not? I always think the important thing is clarity and
sometimes the more formal words are more specific.
 
Michelle
 

________________________________

From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Howard.Silcock@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, 1 March 2007 10:08 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Into Linguistic semantics. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]



I have to say I'm 100% in agreement with Peter on this one ( though
don't interpret this as a *put*-down, Slinka!). 

I can't see any reason to substitute another word for 'put', even in
relatively formal documentation. 'Add' is OK, but directs the reader's
attention a bit unnnecessarily towards the files already there - it
would be slightly strange (though logically impeccable) to use it if
there weren't any files there already. 'Return' is obviously only
appropriate in certain cases. 

I'd like it to be a matter of professionalism to stick to ordinary words
that we'd actually say, when we can. That does include 'add' and
'return', of course. But it also means preferring 'start' and 'end' to
'commence' and 'terminate', and avoiding many other stilted terms like
'adjacent' and 'co-located'. . 

(I should also report that one of my co-workers made the comment that
'put the file into the folder' doesn't make it clear whether you're
moving or copying. But that's another issue.) 

Howard 




Peter G Martin <peter.martin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent by: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

28/02/2007 05:22 PM 
Please respond to
austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Slinka:
On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:50:08 +1100,  you wrote:
> Add (or return) files to the folder.....the word "put" sounds
unprofessional.
>
> But definitely 'put into'........not  'put in to'
>
>

Put ?   What's wrong with put ?
Which profession doesn't like it ?
Perfectly good word.   English.  Short.  Meaningful.
What more could you want ?   Positionization ?

--Peter M


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