[piytar]

In all seriousness, I deal with a lot of otherwise brilliant engineers who simple do not know basic grammar. Their inability to write clearly or even somewhat comprehensibly eventually becomes a serious impediment to their careers.

Now, I also know some brilliant engineers who write at least as well as many lawyers whom I know. Why do I compare those engineers to lawyers? Because most lawyers make their livings via the written word, so they tend to be pretty good writers.

Guess which engineers get the better promotions?

PS Most engineering schools require fewer English credits for engineering degrees than most nontechnical degrees. If the curriculum was up to me, the engineers would have to take more English credits!

[arthurus]

The problem with latter day grammar, as well as spelling, is that these subjects are not actually taught in public school so as not to offend minority students or “disrespect” their patois.

[Smokin' Joe]

Now, I also know some brilliant engineers who write at least as well as many lawyers whom I know.

If you can lay out the specifications for constructing a dam or an automobile chassis or even a circuit, you should be able to construct a sentence.

Despite that, there seems to be a tendency for 'engineerese' to dominate writing styles...

[Travis T. OJustice]

PS Most engineering schools require fewer English credits for engineering degrees than most nontechnical degrees. If the curriculum was up to me, the engineers would have to take more English credits!

I agree, as an engineer, that many of us are poor writers, but are you aware of the already brutal cirriculum? Where would you shove in another couple English classes?