(let's not even go into the weird grammar...)

[deird1]

So, you've decided to write a document. Something that could affect your company. Something that could affect other companies. Something that could, in fact, be used by other companies to sue your company (or vice versa) in the event of an argument between CEOs.

Here's a few tips, from a frazzled editor:
1) Spell things correctly. (This won't help you legally. It will just make me less inclined to wish you bodily harm.)

2) Don't decide that your document is complete and issue it when it still has bits saying insert reference here all over it.

3) Don't use the word "may". "In event of a crisis the tea supply may be replaced with coffee"? What does that mean? Will the tea suppliers be given gracious permission to supply coffee instead? Will the tea magically transform into coffee? Will tea suppliers have to supply coffee whether they want to or not? (Seriously - there are four different ways to interpret the word "may". Don't use it unless you really like hiring high-priced lawyers to fight the lawsuits you've just added an extra four years to.)

4) Say what you mean. In plain English. Complicated phrasing might sound fancier, but it's also leaving you open to much more confusion.

5) Especially don't use complicated phrasing if you don't know what the words mean. (I am currently fighting a battle to stop my office using the word "nominal". They think it sounds formal and fancy - I'm trying to point out that saying a contractor must build a skyscraper to "a nominal 50 storeys" is basically saying "well, you can build it to only 43 storeys, but we'll tell the press that it's 50".)

6) In an equation, don't change the numbers halfway through and then forget to go back and change the earlier ones.

7) Please, oh please, learn how to use apostrophes. I'm begging you.

Comments

[jl-in-the-lane.livejournal.com]

See, I am kinda loving this. Because you are doing your job and being useful. :)