Lately we’ve been addressing precision of language in technical writing. Two posts ago we used the colloquial suffixes -size and -sized to demonstrate the importance of precision of language in more effective technical writing. In the last post we continued that theme by observing the difference between two very similar yet different expressions: whose and of which.
Today we examine that same theme through a related but different lens: the difference between written English and spoken English. Long time readers of this blog will recognize the importance of understanding the difference between written English and spoken English as one of my persistent themes. That’s because understanding that difference can help technical writers to produce more effective writing.
Consider the example sentence in the graphic above. Most would say, “The sentence appears fine.” And that’s the problem right there.
Fine as commonly used is simply colloquial, and colloquial writing is less formal writing. More effective technical writing demands a more formal tone. What is it about fine that creates the informality? It’s the vague nature of its true meaning.
When used in speech, fine generally conveys a sense of positiveness or acceptability. This relates to meanings such as high quality but differs from other actual denotations, such as refined, thin, or delicate. In speech, many nonverbal cues can fill in those gaps. The written word, however, has no such cues.
Employing precision of language helps to convey the formality more effective technical writing requires by avoiding ambiguity. Compare the difference made to the example sentence in the cropped graphic above with the changed sentence below.
Today we examine that same theme through a related but different lens: the difference between written English and spoken English. Long time readers of this blog will recognize the importance of understanding the difference between written English and spoken English as one of my persistent themes. That’s because understanding that difference can help technical writers to produce more effective writing.
Consider the example sentence in the graphic above. Most would say, “The sentence appears fine.” And that’s the problem right there.
Fine as commonly used is simply colloquial, and colloquial writing is less formal writing. More effective technical writing demands a more formal tone. What is it about fine that creates the informality? It’s the vague nature of its true meaning.
When used in speech, fine generally conveys a sense of positiveness or acceptability. This relates to meanings such as high quality but differs from other actual denotations, such as refined, thin, or delicate. In speech, many nonverbal cues can fill in those gaps. The written word, however, has no such cues.
Employing precision of language helps to convey the formality more effective technical writing requires by avoiding ambiguity. Compare the difference made to the example sentence in the cropped graphic above with the changed sentence below.
Although they made a commendable attempt to identify the root cause, the investigation team observed no evidence for a definitive identification.
Replacing fine with commendable improves this sentence considerably. Commendable better conveys the intended meaning. Fine would have been acceptable had the intended meaning been refined, thin, or delicate. But that’s not the case. Substitute each of those alternatives from the denotation of fine to verify. For example,
Although they made a refined attempt to identify the root cause, the investigation team observed no evidence for a definitive identification.
It’s not quite the same, which verifies that fine is not the right word to use here. Try the other alternatives, and you find similar results.
It’s very common in speech to employ informal constructs. But more effective technical writing demands that writers avoid informality. So it’s fine to avoid fine. If you must use it, make sure you intend to convey the denotation of refined, thin, or delicate. Your readers will have a better presentation or your message, and that will improve their impression of you and your brands in their minds.
It’s very common in speech to employ informal constructs. But more effective technical writing demands that writers avoid informality. So it’s fine to avoid fine. If you must use it, make sure you intend to convey the denotation of refined, thin, or delicate. Your readers will have a better presentation or your message, and that will improve their impression of you and your brands in their minds.
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