Re: 'might' vs. 'may'

Subject: Re: 'might' vs. 'may'
From: Richard Mateosian <srm -at- C2 -dot- ORG>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 1994 23:51:36 -0700

> If the board IDs are not consecutive, the bootstrap loader might not
> detect some of the boards.

> If the board IDs are not consecutive, the bootstrap loader may not
> detect some of the boards.

The first is better because of the possible misreading of "may not" as an
indication of lack of permission. Of course the reader will get it right
after the doubletake, but by then the damage is done.

Have you read "The Reader over Your Shoulder" by Graves and Hodge? It deals
with just such considerations. ...RM

Richard Mateosian Technical Writer in Berkeley CA srm -at- c2 -dot- org


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