Turn off the monitor vs turn the monitor off?

Subject: Turn off the monitor vs turn the monitor off?
From: Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>
To: Technical Writing <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>, Nancy Allison <maker -at- verizon -dot- net>
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:41:30 -0500

Nancy Allison wondered: <<A friend is asking me what the rule is (or
if there is one) that determines whether you write "Turn the monitor
off" or "Turn off the monitor.">>

You're asking about the difference between a phrasal verb ("turn off")
and a simple verb ("turn") whose explanation appears at the end of the
sentence. Although phrasal verbs aren't always clear (mostly when
they're idiomatic), "turn off" is clearer than the simple verb:
someone whose English isn't too strong may wonder about (for example)
which way they should rotate (turn) the monitor.


--------------------------------------------------------
Geoff Hart (www.geoff-hart.com)
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
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Turn off the monitor vs turn the monitor off: From: Nancy Allison

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