RE: Grammar Q

Subject: RE: Grammar Q
From: "McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>
To: "Craig Haiss" <craighaiss -at- yahoo -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:49:55 -0500

On Behalf Of Craig Haiss expressed:
[...]
> The use of passive voice instead of "you" is simply
> less accurate. With "you" there is less room for
> misunderstanding. If our job is to be as clear and
> accurate as possible, why leave it up to the reader to
> assume who should be performing the steps in the
> procedure?

I'm with you so far...

> It's nice to know something "can be" done,
> but does that mean that I'm supposed to do it, or does
> the product do it for me?

Here, not so much. I have no problem saying something "can" be done, if
I'm talking about something that is optional. It doesn't matter who does
it, IF they do it, or (perhaps) even when they do it.
But, if some action is necessary to the task/process, then it should not
be left to chance. Somebody must be told to do it. If that somebody is
not the person who is following the immediate set of steps, then the
immediate set of steps should at least tell that person that they _must_
get someone else to perform the other necessary action. "Ensure that
your network administrator has set up DNS for this appliance, and verify
that the DNS changes have propagated in your network before you proceed
to the next step, 'Creating DNS-based cert."

Kevin
The information contained in this electronic mail transmission
may be privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected
from disclosure. If you have received this communication in
error, please notify us immediately by replying to this
message and deleting it from your computer without copying
or disclosing it.


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

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

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! 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.


References:
Re: Grammar Q: From: Janice Gelb
Re: Grammar Q: From: Craig Haiss

Previous by Author: Drawing tool
Next by Author: RE: Grammar Q
Previous by Thread: Re: Grammar Q
Next by Thread: Re: Grammar Q


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


Sponsored Ads