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Tip #177: Get all around the hyphen in all-around

1/30/2020

More effective writers care about precision in language, because greater precision in language means greater effectiveness in communicating to an audience. A good example is the difference between the phrase all around and the hyphenated words all-around and all-round. That little hyphen makes a world of difference. It indicates the expression means comprehensive or versatile. This denotation differs from all around, which means surrounding entirely. All around literally means all around.

Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. The untrained writer may not see a problem here. But there is a problem. The writer here used the hyphenated expression all-around, which as we just learned means comprehensive or versatile. That means we could replace the word the writer used with one of these synonyms and see if it makes sense.

The molten metal then flows comprehensive the ceramic core.
The molten metal then flows versatile the ceramic core.

Neither of these sentences sound right. That’s because in the expression all around, all is an adverb modifying the preposition around, but the hyphenated version is an adjective. Adjectives function differently than adverbs and prepositions, leading to the awkward sound of the modified sentences. Clearly the writer here intends to use a preposition, so the fix here is easy: Just remove the hyphen.

The molten metal then flows all around the ceramic core.

The writer could even make the sentence a bit tighter by omitting one word:

The molten metal then flows around the ceramic core.

Including the adverb all makes the text a bit more informal, whereas excluding it makes it a bit more formal. A more effective writer will consider the purpose of the document and the intended audience in choosing between these two options.

So get all around the hyphen in all-around, and be that more effective writer. Increasing your precision of language will help you communicate more effectively with your intended audience. And a more effective presentation means an improved image of your professional brand in the minds of your audience.

Tip #176: Use balance for finances and remainder for the remainder

1/9/2020

Our tour of precision of language continues, because the more precise writers are with their language, the more effectively they will communicate to their audiences. Three posts ago we examined the phrase as to whether. Two posts ago we considered the difference between people and persons. And in the last post we explored the most effective use of comprise and compose. What’s our next stop on the precision to language train? The words balance and remainder.

These nouns have similar meanings, but a careful examination of those meanings reveals how attention to precision of language can improve the professional image of your writing. Balance has two meanings. The first is a state of equilibrium. The second is specific to accounting. In that context, balance means the amount left in an account after accounting for all deposits and withdrawals. Remainder has a similar meaning but applied to any context; it the amount left over, whether you are talking about a financial account or anything else.

Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Because balance more precisely references the context of a financial account, remainder is more appropriate when discussing alloy composition.

The alloy contains 40% zinc and 1% tin with the remainder being copper.

We often use balance and remainder interchangeably when speaking. But more effective technical writers understand that effective writing is not just transcribed speech. They ride the precision of language train, and so should you. So use balance for finances and remainder for the remainder. You’ll find yourself better able to communicate your messages to your audience. And that will improve the professional images your audience has of you and your writing in their minds.

Tip #175: Let the whole comprise the parts and the parts compose the whole

12/19/2019

We’ve been riding the precision of language train recently, and it’s a good ride. Two posts ago we explored the phrase as to whether. In the last post we examined the difference between people and persons. Our stop in this post considers the most effective use of comprise and compose.

Writers use comprise and compose to convey a relationship between a whole and its parts. But the difference between the two words is essential for achieving precision of language. When communicating a relationship between a whole and its parts, one (the whole or parts) will be the subject of the sentence, and the other will be the direct object. The more correct verb to use depends on which role the whole and its parts play in the sentence.

If the whole is the subject and its parts are the direct object, then the appropriate verb is comprise.
If the parts are the subject and the whole is the direct object, then the appropriate verb is compose.

Shortly put, the whole comprise the parts, and the parts compose the whole. This arrangement should make sense if you think about the actual meanings of the two verbs. Comprise means to be made up of. The parts are not made up of the whole. Rather, it’s the other way around; the whole is made up of the parts. In similar fashion, compose means to create, constitute, or arrange. The whole doesn’t create its parts. Rather, the parts create the whole when they come together.

Thus, the example sentence in the cropped graphic above requires a revision. Constituent elements are the parts that make up the whole alloy, so compose is more appropriate here than comprise.

Copper, zinc and tin compose another good candidate: naval brass, an alloy with high tensile strength and high resistance to corrosion.

Let the whole comprise the parts and the parts compose the whole. Greater precision of language will better communicate your message to your audience. And that will improve your professionalism of both you and your message in their perception.

Tip #174: Sometimes people means persons

11/7/2019

Precision of language has long been a standing theme on this blog — and with good reason. The more precise writers can be with their language, the more effectively they can present their content to their audiences. Recently we’ve examined examples that illustrate that concept. Two weeks ago we considered the more effective use of stratum and strata. Then last week we explored the use of the phrase as to whether. This week we continue our tour of precision of language by examining the use of persons versus people.

The main difference between the two nouns persons and people lies in the intent to highlight individuals. When such attention is desired, more effective writers use persons. When they prefer to convey the notion of one anonymous group, more effective writers use people.

Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. The use of a number as an adjective (four) indicates an emphasis on individuals. Thus, persons is more precise than people in this instance.

The new design requires an additional four persons to manage product assembly.

In speech, we often use people indiscriminately. But more effective technical writers are more careful with the words they use. They understand that sometimes people means persons. So get yourself on the precision of language train. You’ll find yourself better able to communicate your messages to your audience. And that will improve the professional images your audience has of you and your writing in their minds.

Tip #173: As to whether to use as to whether, don’t

10/10/2019

We’ve been addressing precision of language quite frequently in this blog because it really does make a difference in producing more effective technical writing and the professional image that you want audiences to associate with you and your brands. Precision of language involves more than just using the right words; one must also avoid unnecessary words.

The phrase as to whether provides an excellent example. Consider the sentence in the cropped graphic above, and then consider the suggested corrections below (yes, there is more than one possibility here to improve the sentence, and all are equally valid).

Whether the design changes led to the accident is still unknown; the data assembled to date are inconclusive.

No one knows whether the design changes led to the accident; the data assembled to date are inconclusive.

Because the data assembled to date are inconclusive, whether the design changes led to the accident is still unknown.

Notice how these sentences avoid the clumsiness and lack of clarity the example sentence in the cropped graphic displays. That’s because any phrase starting with as to usually provides either a redundancy in meaning or a lack of meaning altogether. Either way, the words as to in a phrase do not contribute to clarity and should therefore not be used. In this way, writers can promote both clarity and conciseness, the two hallmarks of more effective writing.

So as to whether to use as to whether, don’t. Strive for that precision of language that will communicate your messages more effectively to your audience. Your audience will then in turn associate you and your brands with the professionalism you want to cultivate in your image.

Tip #172: Remember that strata are as stratum is

9/19/2019

Precision of language produces more effective technical writing simply because it speaks to an attention to detail that most if not all in your audience will associate with professionalism. Less effective writers often produce less effective writing because they miss those details.

Here’s a common example: Nouns coming to the English language from Greek often have both a singular and plural form, but often one of these words is mistakenly used in place of both. Case in point: the plural strata is often used in place of the singular stratum. Strata is familiar to many, whereas stratum is not so familiar, so it’s easy to understand the common mistaken usage.

However, strata is a plural noun and should be used only with a plural verb. Thus, strata are whereas stratum is. Remember that strata are as stratum is, and you will be one step closer to producing the more effective technical writing that will communicate true professionalism to your audience, who will then associate you and your brands with that professionalism. And in the end, that impression is the one you want to make.

Tip #171: Use in order to in order to preserve clarity

8/22/2019

More effective writers know the great hallmarks of more effective technical writing — clarity and conciseness — and more effective writers attempt to secure both for their writing. However, sometimes writers find these values at odds with each other. In such cases, clarity always trumps conciseness.

The phrase in order to provides an excellent example. Often the single word to serves the same purpose and provides the same meaning as its three-word cousin. However, when conciseness would replace clarity with confusion, more effective writers will select that three-word cousin.

Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. What message does the writer intend to convey? As written above, the sentence connects costs with the project, conveying the sense that management must know how much the proposed project costs. But a writer focused on conciseness may inadvertently communicate a different message.

Management must know the estimated costs to evaluate the feasibility of the project.

This sentence could mean that management wants to know how much a feasibility evaluation of the project would cost. That’s different than asking after costs for the project itself. Thus, a more effective writer wanting to communicate that the cost estimate is for the project and not an evaluation of the project would use in order to rather than to. Three words are less concise than one word, but sacrificing clarity obscures meaning. And communicating meaning is a primary role of language.

By all means, pursue conciseness in your writing. But you should never sacrifice clarity for anything, not even conciseness. So use in order to in order to preserve clarity. Otherwise, and especially when a sentence without in order seems to communicate the same message, use the single preposition to. More effective writers leverage precision of language to become even more effective writers who can present their messages to their audience more effectively. And that more effective presentation will better represent you and your brands to your audience.

Tip #170: In reference to Re, use Subject

7/11/2019

Grammar Nazis would have you believe language has cut-and-dry rules regarding which uses are “right” and which are not. But language is dynamic and living, constantly evolving as generations of users adapt it to living in their own times. Thus, the “rules” worshiped by Grammar Nazis are really nothing more than conventions — widely agreed-upon approaches to communicate meaning. The agreements regarding which approaches best communicate meaning will change as language evolves.

We see one such example in Re. This once popular abbreviation for in reference to which appeared in the headings of memos is becoming less and less common. In its place we find Subject, a word which communicates the same idea more clearly since the audience needs no knowledge of what any abbreviation represents. And since clarity is the first hallmark of more effective writing, support for its use in place of Re continues to grow and grow.

So in reference to Re, use Subject. Modern audiences tend to view anything archaic as less professional. You don’t want to represent yourself or your brands with that image, so if you haven’t already made the switch, do so today. You’ll communicate your messages more effectively when you present them in ways your audience more willingly accepts.

Tip #169: Uncommon words ending in -like like hyphens

6/13/2019

In the last post we expanded our foray into precision of language to include the proper use of hyphens with the prefix neo-. In this post we continue that expansion by exploring the proper use of the hyphen with the suffix -like.

In most cases, the suffix -like will not need a hyphen. However, because more effective writing always favors clarity, -like will take a hyphen if the resulting compound word seems unusual or unclear.

Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. The writer here has used the suffix -like twice. The first instance (lifelike) does not require a hyphen; lifelike is common enough not to be unusual or unclear. However, the second instance involving the word human does require a hyphen since the resulting compound word isn’t very common and as such conveys a sense of unfamiliarity that suggests a possible lack of clarity.

The lifelike replicated assistants approached customers with human-like attributes of friendliness and joviality.

Uncommon words ending in -like like hyphens. Increasing your precision of language will increase the effectiveness of your presentations. And that will increase the image of professionalism you and your brands portray to your audience.

Tip #168: Remember that hyphens with neo- aren’t new

5/30/2019

Lately we’ve been riding the precision of language train because more effective technical writers know that’s a good train to be on. Four posts ago we distinguished the verb and noun forms of attribute. Three posts ago we considered the differences between tenet and tenant. Two posts ago we detailed what distinguishes decided from decisive. And in the last post we explored another pair prone to attend confusion — a while and awhile.

But precision of language is more than just selecting the most appropriate word. Precision of language also includes the proper use of hyphenation within words. And a good example is neo-.

No, I’m not talking about the main character from the trilogy of Matrix films. I’m talking about the English prefix derived from a Greek word meaning new. That meaning doesn’t escape many writers. However, convention says that the proper use of the hyphen with neo- does. And it’s been that way for at least the last 20 years, if not longer.

Here’s the convention: Use a hyphen to join neo- with a proper noun or any noun beginning with the letter o. All other nouns do not need a hyphen when adding the prefix neo-.

In that light, consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Because American is a proper noun, neo- requires the use of a hyphen.

This neo-American approach holds the potential to revitalize manufacturing in this country.

Remember that hyphens with neo- aren’t new. Follow the convention of using a hyphen to join neo- to proper nouns and any noun beginning with the letter o. You’ll increase the precision of your language in your presentation, and that will convey a more professional image of you and your brands in the minds of your audience.