Plain Engineering: Philosophical and Ethical View

Engineers solve problems well, but sometimes they write poorly. They try to write with an academic tone by using overworked, important‐sounding expressions; by filling sentences with adjectives and adverbs; by using lifeless verbs, like obtain, implement, and deal with, instead of hard‐hitting verbs like get, do, and tackle. Too often they use the passive voice as if it were the only way to say something. In a time when chief executives and eminent engineering spokespersons plead for engineers who can communicate well, concise, lucid writing is still rare in reports and technical papers. Moreover, there seems to be resistance from practicing engineers to write plainly. Nonetheless, it is engineers who must demand simple writing for the sake of the profession and its relationship with the rest of society. Well‐educated engineers must know how to solve technical problems and how to write well about their solutions.