We’ve been discussing the importance of distinguishing written English from spoken English and how making that distinction can help writers produce more effective technical writing. The last post encouraged writers to avoid using try and. In this post we'll focus on avoiding as such.
Sometimes writers like to employ expressions that make them sound sophisticated. Other writers want a transition element between sentences and simply use what sounds good. Still other writers just use expressions out of habit without really thinking about what they are doing. As such is one such example of all these instances.
Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Because of problems with welding the joint materials using gas tunsten arc welding, welders need to use a different weld technique. Using as such seems to provide a natural transition that connects that conclusion with the idea in the previous sentence.
However, as such itself has no concrete meaning. Its function then is solely to provide a buffer between the ideas of adjacent sentences. Although this function proves very useful in spoken English (because it gives time for the brain of the audience to catch up with the speaker’s mouth), it serves no useful function in written English. And using words that have no real utility produces less effective technical writing.
Technical writers who desire a transition between the ideas in adjacent sentences would be more effective to select a word that has no purpose other than serving as a transition. For example,
Sometimes writers like to employ expressions that make them sound sophisticated. Other writers want a transition element between sentences and simply use what sounds good. Still other writers just use expressions out of habit without really thinking about what they are doing. As such is one such example of all these instances.
Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Because of problems with welding the joint materials using gas tunsten arc welding, welders need to use a different weld technique. Using as such seems to provide a natural transition that connects that conclusion with the idea in the previous sentence.
However, as such itself has no concrete meaning. Its function then is solely to provide a buffer between the ideas of adjacent sentences. Although this function proves very useful in spoken English (because it gives time for the brain of the audience to catch up with the speaker’s mouth), it serves no useful function in written English. And using words that have no real utility produces less effective technical writing.
Technical writers who desire a transition between the ideas in adjacent sentences would be more effective to select a word that has no purpose other than serving as a transition. For example,
Therefore, use of GTAW for this joint should be discontinued.
Consequently, use of GTAW for this joint should be discontinued.
Consequently, use of GTAW for this joint should be discontinued.
Other transitory words could also be acceptable. More effective technical writing is clear and concise. Every word writers select influences the clarity and conciseness of their documents. Words and phrases such as as such add nothing substantial or useful.
As such, you shouldn’t use as such — and yes, I deliberately used it here to make the point and a pun at the same time! More effective writers craft more effective presentations. And more effective presentations not only communicate more effectively but also represent the writers who craft them and their brands more effectively as well.
As such, you shouldn’t use as such — and yes, I deliberately used it here to make the point and a pun at the same time! More effective writers craft more effective presentations. And more effective presentations not only communicate more effectively but also represent the writers who craft them and their brands more effectively as well.
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