Technical writers modify their main ideas with prepositional phrases. But their use of an abundance of phrases can result in overmodification and misplacement of modifiers, which can lead to obscuration of meanings and confusion to readers. The writers should reduce such phrasing, strengthen their verbs, and thus clarify their main ideas.

Technical writers are speeding language change by dropping possessive forms of nouns before gerunds, subjunctive forms of verbs after “if,” full words to make acronyms, and subjects (and thereby dangle modifiers). Until a generation ago, English teachers and editors admonished students and writers to uphold the traditions of formal style. Remember these traditions: Use noun and verb forms for fullest immediate understanding. Spell out acronyms the first time that you use them, and modify stated subjects. What you lose in time, you gain in meaning.