Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!pyrdc!pyrnj!rutgers!mailrus!purdue!spaf
From: spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford)
Newsgroups: news.misc
Subject: Changes to Hints on writing style for Usenet
Message-ID: <5067@medusa.cs.purdue.edu>
Date: 11 Oct 88 02:56:29 GMT
Expires: 9 Jan 89 02:56:28 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue Univ.
Lines: 93
Supersedes: <4849@medusa.cs.purdue.edu>

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/style.n	Sun Sep 11 21:17:52 1988
--- src/style.n	Mon Oct 10 21:53:38 1988
***************
*** 5,7
  Original-from: ofut@gatech.edu (A. Jeff Offutt VI)
! [Most recent change: 11 March 1988 by vax135!booth (David Booth)]
  

--- 5,7 -----
  Original-from: ofut@gatech.edu (A. Jeff Offutt VI)
! [Most recent change: 10 October 1988 by lmg@hoqaz.att.com (Larry Geary)]
  
***************
*** 16,18
  The above references are both excellent books.  Cunningham is a
! standard in Tech writing classes and won an award for the best tech
  writing book from the Association for Teaching of Technical Writing.  I

--- 16,18 -----
  The above references are both excellent books.  Cunningham is a
! standard in tech writing classes and won an award for the best tech
  writing book from the Association for Teaching of Technical Writing.  I
***************
*** 22,24
  
! This is a "long article". The rest of it is simply a list of pointers.
  

--- 22,24 -----
  
! This is a "long article." The rest of it is simply a list of pointers.
  
***************
*** 34,35
   * White space is not wasted space -- it greatly improves clarity.
  

--- 34,37 -----
   * White space is not wasted space -- it greatly improves clarity.
+    A blank line only adds a byte to the article length, so don't be
+    stingy if it will help make your meaning clearer.
  
***************
*** 55,58
  
!  * When being especially "flame-boyant", I find it helpful to go the bathroom
!    before actually sending.  Then, I often change the tone considerably.
  

--- 57,62 -----
  
!  * When being especially "flame-boyant", I find it helpful to go to the bathroom
!    before actually sending.  Then, I often change the tone considerably. :-)
!    Take a break before posting something in anger or that might hurt or
!    anger others.
  
***************
*** 59,61
   * Subject lines should be used very carefully.  How much time have you
!    wasted reading articles with a misleading subject line?
  

--- 63,68 -----
   * Subject lines should be used very carefully.  How much time have you
!    wasted reading articles with a misleading subject line?  The "Subject:"
!    header line can be edited in all the various posting programs
!    (as can the "Distribution:", "Newsgroups:" and "Followup-To:" header
!    lines).
  
***************
*** 73,74
     intended.
  

--- 80,86 -----
     intended.
+ 
+  * Make an effort to spell words correctly.  Obvious misspellings are
+    jarring and distract the reader.  Every news posting program allows
+    you to edit your article before posting, and most systems have some
+    kind of spelling checker program that you can use on your article.
  
-- 
Gene Spafford
NSF/Purdue/U of Florida  Software Engineering Research Center,
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf