RE: Technical Grammar Peeves

["Migliore, Charles W" <Charles.W.Migliore@nspco.com>]

I gots a couple too. Hows abouts how everyone likes to say "utilize" in an
attempt to sound learned and precocious? Why not just say "use"? Theres a
few more that escape me at the moment.....  

Simpler is better.

Charles Migliore RRPT

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Falo Gerald A CHPPM [SMTP:Gerald.Falo@APG.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL]
> Sent:	Thursday, May 27, 1999 9:11 AM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Technical Grammar Peeves
> 
> I've restrained myself for a while now, but I've noticed several annoying
> grammatical trends cropping up in many publications., including technical
> articles.
> 
> The first is the use of the word "reference" as a verb; as is "Not to be
> referenced."  According to one dictionary I have, the verb form has been
> around since 1891, but other dictionaries don't list it at all.  Matt
> Young's book, "The Technical Writer's Handbook, Writing with Style and
> Clarity," states definitively that reference is a noun not a verb.
> 
> I weigh in with Matt's position.  You may "refer" to something or
> something
> may be "referred to' something else.  Documents and publications are
> "cited"
> not "referenced" in other publications.
> 
> Another problem I've been seeing is the capitalization of the names of
> elements and units; for example, Radium instead of radium and Becquerel
> instead of becquerel.  According to the SI system the abbreviations of
> units
> based on names are capitalized but the name is not.  I believe that the
> same
> rule applies to element names.
> 
> I know that these are not weighty matters, but I was just beginning to
> read
> the draft report of the NCRP Scientific Committee Report Number 6, and in
> big bold letters across the top it says, "DRAFT FOR COMMENT, NOT TO BE
> REFERENCED." In this month's HPS Newsletter, there is at least one
> reference
> to "Becquerel level". 
> 
> Thanks for letting me vent.
> 
> Jerry Falo
> jer3ry@aol.com
> 
> ************************************************************************
> The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
> information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html