Re: Perform vs. do

[Kathleen MacDowell <kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Barbara, I've recently seen references to a "plain" language for technical
writing, but I can't remember where I saw it. I think it was on one of the
LinkedIn groups, but not the Plain Language one.

I'll see if I can find the reference for you--it sounds like it  might be
more suitable for your needs. Although clarity is important, the Plain
Language group seems a bit more directed toward law and academics (although
I could be mistaken).

Kathleen



On Fri, Oct 11, 2013 at 8:39 PM, Barb <caslon -at- windstream -dot- net> wrote:

> If you are a true glutton for punishment, you can download the Reference
> Manual and see the examples in context.
>
> http://www.keithley.com/data?asset=57633
>
> The autozero example is on page 136.
>
> The User's Manual is the one that tends to use the ".... perform the
> following steps" format:
> http://www.keithley.com/data?asset=57632
>
>
> Barb
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+caslon=windstream -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+caslon=windstream -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> Behalf
> Of Barb
> Sent: Friday, October 11, 2013 9:00 PM
> To: 'Milan Davidovic'
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: Perform vs. do
>
> We've been trying to move to more ESL-friendly language, plus
> plainlanguage.gov recommends "do" over "perform" (but with no
> explanation).
> We've been trying to use "do" instead, but it sounds strange. Because it
> sounds strange, our department members have been sporadic about using it.
> This in turn has resulted in inconsistent usage, so we're trying to
> establish rules around when to and not to use "perform" and "do" (or,
> ideally, use one of them consistently).
>
> I've found that sometimes there's a grammatical reason when things sound
> strange (rules we've internalized but forgotten). In this case, I'm not
> finding one.
>
>
> Barb
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Milan Davidovic [mailto:milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com]
> Sent: Friday, October 11, 2013 4:00 PM
> To: Barbara Philbrick
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: Perform vs. do
>
> On Fri, Oct 11, 2013 at 9:07 AM, Barbara Philbrick <caslon -at- windstream -dot- net>
> wrote:
> > Our writing group is trying to decide if we should start using "do"
> instead of "perform" for lead-in statements to procedures.
>
> How did this come up?
>
> --Milan Davidovic
>
> Sent from my Yost 10
>
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> New! Doc-to-Help 2013 features the industry's first HTML5 editor for
> authoring.
>
> Learn more: http://bit.ly/ZeOZeQ
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as caslon -at- windstream -dot- net -dot- 
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
> info.
>
> Looking for articles on Technical Communications?  Head over to our online
> magazine at http://techwhirl.com
>
> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions?  Search our public
> email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> New! Doc-to-Help 2013 features the industry's first HTML5 editor for
> authoring.
>
> Learn more: http://bit.ly/ZeOZeQ
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com -dot- 
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
> info.
>
> Looking for articles on Technical Communications?  Head over to our online
> magazine at http://techwhirl.com
>
> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions?  Search our public
> email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>



-- 
Kathleen MacDowell
kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
New! Doc-to-Help 2013 features the industry's first HTML5 editor for authoring.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/ZeOZeQ

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

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-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


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

Looking for articles on Technical Communications?  Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions?  Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives