David Pogue is one of my favorite tech writers when it comes to software and gadget reviews. He brings humor and clear language to an industry that can sometimes take itself too seriously and speak in strings of acronyms. In fact, I often point my tech writing students to some of his reviews and videos because they stand out as such stellar examples of communicating tech stuff to non-experts.
Anyway, in one of his recent postings, he issues a clarion call of sorts to tech writers on tech terms to avoid. Two of my favorites that appear in his list of offenders are enable and functionality.
- Enable. Who on earth says, “Enable the GPS function”? Only user-manual writers and computer-book authors. Say “Turn on GPS” instead.
- * Functionality. WOW, do I despise this pretentious word. Five syllables–ooh, what a knowledgeable person you must be!
It means “feature.” Say “feature.”