Four posts ago we discussed the proper use of inside of to demonstrate how precision of language contributes to more effective technical writing. In this post we’ll be examining a similar construction — outside of — to demonstrate a similar effect.
If you read that previous post about inside of, you’ll know the importance of distinguishing between spoken and written English. More effective writers understand and incorporate these differences into their writing. Because spoken English by convention is more lax, it carries an informality inconsistent with the tone which technical writing should often convey.
For instance, take the example sentence in the graphic above. The phrase outside of is colloquial and as such conveys that informality which more effective technical writing omits. A more effective writer will opt to replace the colloquial phrase with a more formal but equivalent meaning expression. Here are some examples:
If you read that previous post about inside of, you’ll know the importance of distinguishing between spoken and written English. More effective writers understand and incorporate these differences into their writing. Because spoken English by convention is more lax, it carries an informality inconsistent with the tone which technical writing should often convey.
For instance, take the example sentence in the graphic above. The phrase outside of is colloquial and as such conveys that informality which more effective technical writing omits. A more effective writer will opt to replace the colloquial phrase with a more formal but equivalent meaning expression. Here are some examples:
The fracture initiated just outside the joint at the stress concentration point.
The fracture initiated near the joint at the stress concentration point.
The fracture initiated near the joint at the stress concentration point.
Compare each of these sentences with the example sentence in the above graphic, and you should discern a difference in tone. More effective technical writing demonstrates a greater sensitivity for such differences.
The difference here is the word of. The word of is redundant and should be eliminated. It contributes no additional meaning and increases the informality of tone. More effective technical writing generally has a more formal tone, and all more effective writing eliminates redundancies of language.
Sometimes a writer will want to use outside of to mean aside from or except for. In these cases, the writer should employ the intended meaning and not outside of.
The difference here is the word of. The word of is redundant and should be eliminated. It contributes no additional meaning and increases the informality of tone. More effective technical writing generally has a more formal tone, and all more effective writing eliminates redundancies of language.
Sometimes a writer will want to use outside of to mean aside from or except for. In these cases, the writer should employ the intended meaning and not outside of.
Aside from an occasional failure, the new unit performs reliably.
Except for an occasional failure, the new unit performs reliably.
Except for an occasional failure, the new unit performs reliably.
The difference between these two sentences and one which would use outside of is precision of language. More effective technical writing tends to have more precise language.
Make sure you embrace greater precision of language and avoid redundancies in your technical writing. Stay outside of outside of. You will produce not only more effective technical writing but also more effective presentations of both you and your brands to your audience.
Make sure you embrace greater precision of language and avoid redundancies in your technical writing. Stay outside of outside of. You will produce not only more effective technical writing but also more effective presentations of both you and your brands to your audience.
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