TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:"Allow" v. "enable"? Pick the right dictionary! From:beverly_robinson -at- datacard -dot- com To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Wed, 8 Mar 2000 09:25:45 -0600
Coming out of lurk mode to comment on the denotation and connotation of
"enable".
People who have struggled with alcoholism or other addictions (either their own
or a loved one's) are familiar with the term enabler. An enabler is a person who
covers up for the alcoholic thus enabling him or her to continue on the path to
desctruction.
I, too, prefer "lets" for its brevity, informality, and because it doesn't have
the bad connotations of enabling.
Returning now to lurk mode.
Beverly Robinson
Minnetonka, Minnesota
(land of 10,000 lakes and almost as many 12-step programs)
