RE: "Is energized"

[<kathleen -at- writefortheuser -dot- com>]

Beth wrote:

> A thought/question: When describing the state of a relay as being  
> energized, is the term "is energized" accurate? Or do I need to say "is in the  
> energized state"?

==========

Personally, I've never like the terms "energized" or "activated" in the
context of hardware/software/electrical products. It could just be an
unreasonable prejudice on my part.

But these terms are often used and/or accepted standards. So what I'd
suggest is to do some quick research, e.g., google the terms, to see how
and when they're used. Other good places to look are Wikipedia and some
of the standards sites for the industry, as well as competitors' sites.
Also, what others on the list recommend :-)

Do a brief summary of common usage, then talk to the SME with your data
to see if you can come to an agreement.  You want your audience to be
able to understand the content, so it's important to use standard
terminology, or train them to understand it where necessary.

Kathleen

>  
> In a message dated 11/30/2009 8:21:47 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
> kathleen -at- writefortheuser -dot- com writes:
> 
> I agree  with your suggestion and Donald's (e.g., below).
> 
> It not only makes it  active, it's more informative than the passive
> version, and a simpler (thus  easier and quicker to read and understand).
> 
> Kathleen
> 
> >  -------- Original Message --------
> > Subject: RE: "Is energized"
> >  From: "Donald H White" <dwhite -at- jrtcllc -dot- com>
> > Date: Mon, November  30, 2009 8:02 am
> > To: <BBEGIN -at- aol -dot- com>,  <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> > 
> > 
> > "<component  V> activates (energizes) relay XYZ"
> > 
> 
> > 
> >  |-----Original Message-----
> > |From: BBEGIN -at- aol -dot- com  [mailto:BBEGIN -at- aol -dot- com]
> > |Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 8:57  AM
> > |To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > |Cc:  BBEGIN -at- aol -dot- com
> > |Subject: "Is energized"
> > |
> > |
> >  |Any suggestions for making "is energized" into the active voice?
> >  |
> > |I'm working on a project that must all be in the active voice.  Many
> > |circuitry descriptions are "the XYZ relay is energized"  and
> > |"the relay is picked
> > |up." Any suggestions for changing  these to active? Sometimes
> > |"energy flows
> > |to  the XYZ  relay" sounds awkward, and might not be accurate.
> > |I also try  to
> > |reverse  this: "the ABC energizes the XYZ relay."
> >  |
> > |TIA,
> > |
> > |Beth
> > |++++++++++++++
> > |Beth  Lisberg Najberg
> > |Beginnings
> > |
> > |
> > |Chicago,  IL  60610
> > |+++++++++++++++
> >  |^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > |
> >  |Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author,
> >  |build, test, and publish your Help files with just one
> > |easy-to-use  tool. Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free
> > |for 30-days at:  http://www.doctohelp.com/
> > |
> > |Help & Manual 5: The  all-in-one help authoring tool. True
> > |single- sourcing --
> >  |generate 8 different formats and as many different versions as
> > |you  need
> > |from just one project. Fast and intuitive.
> >  |http://www.helpandmanual.com/
> > 
> > 
> >  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > 
> > Are  you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author, 
> >  build, test, and publish your Help files with just one easy-to-use  tool.
> > Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free for 30-days  at:
> > http://www.doctohelp.com/ 
> > 
> > Help & Manual 5:  The all-in-one help authoring tool. True single- 
> sourcing -- 
> > generate  8 different formats and as many different versions as you need 
> > from  just one project. Fast and intuitive.   
> http://www.helpandmanual.com/
> > 
> > ---
> > You are currently  subscribed to TECHWR-L as kathleen -at- writefortheuser -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/kathleen%40writefortheuser.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. 
> > 
> > Please move off-topic discussions  to the Chat list, at:
> >  http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat

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

Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author, 
build, test, and publish your Help files with just one easy-to-use tool.
Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free for 30-days at:
http://www.doctohelp.com/ 

Help & Manual 5: The all-in-one help authoring tool. True single- sourcing -- 
generate 8 different formats and as many different versions as you need 
from just one project. Fast and intuitive.  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. 

Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat