In the last post we addressed precision of language in the specific case of practical and practicable. In this post we’ll examine this same topic together with a related but different topic: understanding the differences 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, consider the example sentence in the graphic above. Using the modifying suffix -size (as well as its sibling -sized) is colloquial and as such conveys that informality which more effective technical writing omits.
Both -size and -sized are very common in advertising copy, in which people write very much like they speak. Technical writing is a very different game. More effective technical writers will opt to omit -size and -sized from their writing to avoid too much informality.
Redundancy provides another rationale for omitting -size and -sized. Consider this revision of the example sentence in the cropped graphic above.
For instance, consider the example sentence in the graphic above. Using the modifying suffix -size (as well as its sibling -sized) is colloquial and as such conveys that informality which more effective technical writing omits.
Both -size and -sized are very common in advertising copy, in which people write very much like they speak. Technical writing is a very different game. More effective technical writers will opt to omit -size and -sized from their writing to avoid too much informality.
Redundancy provides another rationale for omitting -size and -sized. Consider this revision of the example sentence in the cropped graphic above.
The metallographic inspection revealed giant particles in the metal matrix.
Comparing this sentence with the one in the cropped graphic above reveals that the suffix -sized really doesn’t communicate any additional meaning. That redundancy makes it a great target for elimination. More effective technical writing communicates the essential message with as few words as possible.
You could make an exception if -size and -sized are part of a name. In that case, they are an essential part of the proper noun and should not be removed. In all other instances, these suffixes are redundant and should be avoided.
So remember to downsize your use of -size and -sized. Avoid colloquialisms and redundancies in language. Such efforts will produce not only more effective technical writing but also more effective presentations of both you and your brands to your audience.
You could make an exception if -size and -sized are part of a name. In that case, they are an essential part of the proper noun and should not be removed. In all other instances, these suffixes are redundant and should be avoided.
So remember to downsize your use of -size and -sized. Avoid colloquialisms and redundancies in language. Such efforts 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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