English for Technical Writers

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English for Technical Writers

• Lynn Beechey-Volz
• Chris Keelan
• WS 07/08

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Some common mistakes

• Tighten your handbrake
• Fasten the handbrake
• Drop the wheel
• Lift your car up
• Get the new wheel and put it on the car
• Put the new wheel there
• Have a look that the nuts are still loose
• Take the jack and put it on the ground near the
  wheel
• Put the wrench on a bold
• Leave the damaged wheel

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Good instructions 2

• Technical terms
• Sequence and numbering
• Warnings
• Modal verbs
• The simple imperative
• Negative instructions

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Sequencing and Numbering Get it right!

• Adjust flow through valve 4.23. This requires a
  check on temperature, and before adjusting the
  valve, opening briefly the cylinder drain valve.

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Warnings

• Make them stand out
• Use capitals and bold type
• Use simple imperatives
• Remember, if just one person misses your warning,
  you could be in trouble!
• Do not forget however, under any circumstances,
  that it is extremely advisable to avoid placing a
  naked flame near the evacuator pump

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Modal verbs Avoid them!

• They turn an instruction into an observation
• Also they are repetitious
• The valve should be closed immediately
• The steam should be blown-off by opening vent C
• The boiler casing should be drained
• The oil supply should be switched off

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Negative instructions

• Can be confusing
• Pressure must not be lowered until the
  temperature is not less than 70
• Better
• Keep the pressure constant until the temperature
  is at least 70
• But, with warnings, we sometimes need negatives
• DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE MACHINE IS IN
  OPERATION!

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Use simple imperatives

• Close the valve immediately
• Open vent C to blow off steam
• Drain the boiler casing
• Switch off the oil supply

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Contact

• Lynn.Beechey-Volz_at_hs-karlsruhe.de
• Chris.Keelan_at_hs-karlsruhe.de
• Office hours Chris F304, Lynn LI-024
• Tuesday, Thursday 1300 - 1345,
• Wednesday 1130 1215