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Improving writing one writer at a time

Tip #131: Effective writers cannot help but avoid cannot help but

3/30/2017

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In the last post we continued our recent excursion into the role of precision of language in technical writing with an examination of the words tenant and tenet.  In this post we introduce an informal expression to discuss the importance of distinguishing between spoken and written English.

I’ve long advocated avoiding colloquialisms in technical writing.  They blur the distinction between spoken and written English, and that introduces too informal a tone into technical writing.  That informality of tone produces less effective technical writing because it violates a longstanding convention of technical writing which calls for a more formal tone.

We’ve discussed many colloquialisms in past posts, and more effective technical writers avoid all of them.  Today I introduce to that list another expression: cannot help but.  As with all colloquialisms, this expression is acceptable in spoken English but not in written English, and especially not with a format like technical writing which requires a more formal tone.

Compare the example sentence in the cropped graphic above with the revised sentences below.  Note the difference in tone which makes the revised sentences more effective in technical writing circles.


Based on this evidence, we cannot avoid the conclusion that a faulty manufacturing process is the root cause of the failure.

Based on this evidence, we cannot avoid concluding that a faulty manufacturing process is the root cause of the failure.

What creates the difference in tone?  In logical terms, the word cannot introduces a negative to the sentence.  Quickly following in our example colloquial expression is the conjunction but, which usually serves to introduce a contradiction.  Since contradictions are logical negatives, using the phrase cannot help but has the same effect as a double negative, which always makes for less effective technical writing.

So more effective technical writers cannot help but avoid cannot help but.  They respect the convention for greater formality in technical writing.  In so doing, they not only communicate their intended message more effectively but also present themselves and the brands they represent more effectively to their audiences.
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Tip #130: Respect the tenet about tenants

3/16/2017

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In the last post we used the colloquial expression outside of to demonstrate the importance of precision of language in more effective technical writing.  In this post we'll continue that theme by observing the difference between two very similar yet different words: tenant and tenet.

A tenant is someone who occupies real property owned by someone else.  A tenet is a central principle or belief.  Both words descend from the Latin verb tenere which means to hold.  Think about that for a moment, and the logic behind the etymology should be clear.  A tenant is someone who “holds” real property, and a tenet is an idea that someone holds.

Both tenant and tenet also have the same pronunciation, so an audience must use context to distinguish between the two words in spoken English.  In written English, however, the difference in spelling (as well as the difference in context based in the difference in meaning) provides the distinction.

So respect the tenet about tenants by using the proper word to convey your intended meaning.  More precise language produces more effective technical writing.  And more effective technical writing provides a better presentation of both you and your brand.

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    Author

    Howdy!  I'm Lance, Managing Editor of words by kurt.  I'm also an engineer and an educator.  With degrees in both engineering and English, I've been providing writing-related services since 1997, and I want to help my fellow engineers become better writers.  That's why in 2014 I started providing free writing tips via this blog.  Enjoy!

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