(The pronoun is underlined.)
NOT: The side stay assembly has two main members and two folding toggles hinged together and attached with hinges between the main gear strut and the side stay bracket.
(The underlined connecting word links two sentence parts that can stand on their own.)
RULE: 4.2 Do not omit words to make your sentences shorter.
Do not omit UnounsU. The reader will not know what things are referred to.
Example:
WRITE: Cracks can be a maximum of five inches long.
NOT: Can be a maximum of five inches long.
Do not omit UverbsU. The reader will not know what the action is.
Example:
WRITE: Set the rotary switch to INPUT.
NOT: Rotary switch to INPUT.
Do not omit Uparts of wordsU to create contractions. These can be difficult to understand in technical procedures. They are also considered too informal in technical writing by most companies.
Example:
WRITE: Do not use the part if it will be in post-SB XXXX assemblies.
NOT: Don't use the part if it will be in post-SB XXXX assemblies.
Do not use expressions in which the Utopic itemU is omitted. The reader will not know what things are referred to.
Example:
WRITE: If the shims are installed, remove them.
NOT: If installed, remove the shims.
WRITE: WARNING: MAKE SURE THAT THE POTABLE WATER SYSTEM IS NOT PRESSURIZED. A PRESSURIZED SYSTEM CAN CAUSE INJURY TO PERSONS WHEN THEY DO WORK ON IT.
NOT: WARNING: MAKE SURE THAT THE POTABLE WATER SYSTEM IS NOT PRESSURIZED. IF NOT, THIS CAN CAUSE INJURY TO PERSONS WHEN THEY DO WORK ON IT.
Tabular Layout
RULE: 4.3 Use a tabular layout (vertical layout) for complex texts.
The tabular layout of text (sometimes called "vertical layout") with standard punctuation can help to show the relationship between two or more complex actions or events. This is clearer than writing long sentences. Refer to Section 8 for the standard punctuation, and the information on how to count the words in such a layout.
As a reminder, when you use tabular layouts:
Each breakout starts with an upper case letter.
Put a full stop (period) at the end of each breakout if it is a complete sentence.
Do not put a full stop (period) or a comma at the end of each breakout if it is not a complete sentence. Put the full stop only at the end of the last breakout.
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