Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1990

The Readability Controversy: A Technical Writing Review

Timothy D. Giles Georgia Southern University

Abstract

The author reviews recent articles from the technical writing literature focusing on the controversy surrounding the appropriateness of readability formulas for technical writing, an issue of immediate concern for many writers and editors. While some authorities recommend readability formulas—if the writer recognizes the formulas as a tool limited by the variables manipulated—overwhelming argument from other experts suggests that the formulas should be ignored because they can mislead writers by lulling them into a false sense of security or into writing stilted prose to fit the formula. The author suggests that further research should be conducted to study empirically how readability as a concept might be used to aid the technical writer since readability formulas are shaping computerized editing programs.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1990-04-01
DOI
10.2190/u4ff-0l5q-fpd4-2dcj
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (6)

  1. Giles et al. (2005)
    A Syntactic Approach to Readability
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Giles (2001)
    The Missing Metaphor
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Connatser (1999)
    Last Rites for Readability Formulas in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. SPEARS (1998)
    Practicing Good Technical Communication Techniques by Revising Patient-Educatio…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Shaffer et al. (1993)
    Assessing the Readability of Government Accounting Standards: The Cloze Procedure
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 6 →
  1. Rowan (1991)
    When Simple Language Fails: Presenting Difficult Science to the Public
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (1)

  1. Schenck (1977)
    The Technical Writer-Readability Formulas and the Nontechnical Reader
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 8 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1109/TPC.1987.6449109
     ↗
  2. 10.1109/TPC.1980.6501857
     ↗
  3. 10.1109/TPC.1980.6501858
     ↗
  4. 10.1109/TPC.1975.6593728
     ↗
  5. 10.1109/TPC.1981.6447827
     ↗
  6. 10.1109/TPC.1981.6447826
     ↗
  7. 10.1109/TPC.1981.6447824
     ↗
  8. 10.1109/TPC.1985.6448840
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 12 View in citation network →

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