RE: "Appears" vs. "will appear"

Subject: RE: "Appears" vs. "will appear"
From: "Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>
To: "'Keith Hansen'" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 09:26:04 -0700

FWIW: I avoid the use of the word "appear" altogether because is sounds
like the new window just manifests out of nothing. Here is a No. 3 option.

"Click the ABC to open the XYZ dialog box."

Lauren


> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> Behalf Of Keith Hansen
> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:11 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: "Appears" vs. "will appear"
>
> I want to canvass your opinions here. Which do you prefer:
>
> No. 1: "Click the ABC button. The XYZ dialog box appears."
> No. 2: "Click the ABC button. The XYZ dialog box will appear."
>
> I prefer "appears." It's more concise (one word vs. two). Also, "will
> appear" sounds like a future prediction, rather than a
> statement of what
> occurs. Compare the following:
>
> "The clouds gather. It rains."
> "The clouds gather. It will rain."
>
> Please vote for No. 1 or No. 2. Give reasons for your preference.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Keith
>
> P.S. BTW, I had a colleague who abhorred the use of the word "appears"
> or "will appear." She said it made the process sound magical
> ("Abracadabra! It appears!") So she would write a sentence like this:
>
> "The XYZ dialog box is displayed by the software."
>
> But this is passive voice (if I'm not mistaken; the subject is acted
> upon, rather than acting). So the sentence was then rewritten
> like this:
>
> "The software displays the XYZ dialog box."
>
> However, the subject of our sentence (software) is not really
> the center
> of our attention here. The center of attention is actually the dialog
> box, which is now shoved to the end of the sentence.
>
> Personally, I can live with "appears"!
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help
> file formats or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows
> Vista & 2007
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
> full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
> to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/lt34%40csus.edu
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

References:
"Appears" vs. "will appear": From: Keith Hansen

Previous by Author: Re: Most embarasssing error (was Finding errors in manuals)
Next by Author: Insurance Question
Previous by Thread: "Appears" vs. "will appear"
Next by Thread: RE: "Appears" vs. "will appear"


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads