- From: Al Gilman <asgilman@iamdigex.net>
- Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 12:15:22 -0400
- To: w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
At 11:01 PM 2001-08-15 , Jason White wrote: > > > > > + [47]Checkpoint 3.3 Write as clearly and simply as is possible > > > and appropriate for the site's content. > > > > Or: > > > > Write as clearly and simply as possible > > in a way that is appropriate for the site's content. > > > > You'll spend the rest of your lives arguing over whether or not > > "appropriate" is an adverb (indicative of the level of help WCAG > > needs with writing). This way there is no such debate. >The suggested alternative only makes the sentence harder to interpret > > and resolves no ambiguity. The original is still hard to read right. A likely expectation at the point where you leave 'possible' <br> and hit 'and' is to expect a compound predicate or compound sentence, but not to be ready for a compound object of the preposition 'as.' The proposed alternate does not substantially eliminate this problem. It still takes two takes to get "in a way" associated with "as possible" and not "Write..." Consider the following other variations: - Write as clearly and as simply as you can, without misrepresenting the site's content. - Write in the clearest and simplest language that is still consistent with the site's content. - While remaining faithful to the site's content, write as clearly and simply as you can. - Write as clearly and simply as you can while remaining faithful to the site's content. There is a conflict between the wish to front-load a simple imperative and the fact that this rule involves the interaction of two clauses, one a 'satisfy constraint' clause and the other an 'optimize quality' clause. Al
Received on Thursday, 16 August 2001 11:57:28 UTC