Style Terms for Introduction to Technical Writing – Flashcards
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Technical information that your readers are unfamiliar with should come at the end of sentences. Sentences that open with unfamiliar technical terms slow readers.
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Tech Term Placement
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When the writer puts unimportant information at the end of a sentence. The end of a sentence is the last thing the reader remembers and only important information belongs there. Avoid ending sentences with phrases such as, "however," "according to our records," "for example," etc...
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Emphasis Problem
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When sentences are not tied together using the old/new information principle. To fix: New information comes at the end of a sentence to introduce the new idea. Once a writer has introduced the new info, then it becomes old information and is available for use at the beginning of sentences.
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Tie-In Problem
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Language that is not clear or detailed. Non-specific language often related to numbers and times: soon, few, many, several. Non-specific language can include "it" if it begins a sentence or is without clear prior reference.
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Non-Specific Language
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A word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., "when young" in "when young, circuses appeal to all of us" or "wearing a ball gown" in the sentence, "She sat on the lap of a fat man wearing a ball gown."
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Misplaced Modifier
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A modifiying phrase or clause that does not sensibly modify any word or words in a sentence. Usually the actor is missing from the sentence: e.g., "Reading a book, the black cat crawled onto my lap." The cat was not reading the book. To fix: add an actor to the sentence.
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Dangling Modifier
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Three or more nouns together can slow reading. To fix: break these long noun phrases up by adding in articles or prepositions.
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Stacked Noun (Noun + Noun + Noun)
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1. Words that can have more than one meaning in the context of the sentence: e.g., "The teacher was mad," --was she insane or angry? 2. Typos, misspellings, homonyms used incorrectly.
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Faulty Word Choice
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Two words with the same meaning joined by "and": e.g., "each and every," "full and complete," "null and void," "first and foremost," etc.... To fix: removed extra words.
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Redundant Pair
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Unnecessary intensifier or explainer that is already implied by one (or more) of the words: e.g., "very unique," "free gift," "green in color," "round in shape," etc... To fix: remove extra words.
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Redundant Modifier
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Words that pad a sentence without adding anything of value: e.g.: "due to the fact that" is unnecessary when writers have "because" to use. "In order to" does not need the "in order" portion to communicate the same message.
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Unnecessary Words
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Often found with the word "not." Tell readers what they need to know and what they should be doing instead of focusing on what they should not be doing: e.g., "You do not not have homework," is more difficult to read and understand than, "You have homework."
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Negative Language
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Words that the average 8th grade level reader and below would not be familiar with. Any jargon from a specific field. Use sparingly in technical documents unless you know your audience has the necessary vocabulary. Example: "Pursuant to our conversation," comes across as inflated when the writer could have written, "As we discussed."
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Inflated Language
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Language that alienates a specific group or gender: e.g, "Policeman" becomes "Police Officer," "man-made" becomes "synthetic," "autistic children" becomes "children with autism," etc...
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Offensive Language
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Slang, cliches, or brand names that belong only to a specific group or culture: e.g.: "I went home and crashed," becomes "I went home and napped," "Band-Aids" becomes "bandages," "White Out" becomes "liquid paper" or "correction fluid," etc....
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Cultural Idiom
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