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on "CAN", was Old thread, hopefully new spin on "allow" v. "enable.
Subject:on "CAN", was Old thread, hopefully new spin on "allow" v. "enable. From:Christi <christi -at- sageinst -dot- COM> To:Harry Hager <hhager -at- dttus -dot- com>, TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 10 Mar 2000 11:18:25 -0800
> "CAN"
>
> One more thought: I do not use the word "can" anywhere in my
> documentation, as in "You can select the xxx command to xxx, You can
> click the xxx button to xxx." In these cases "can" is not needed and
> really adds nothing to the sentence, it's just an extra word. You do
> not change the meaning of these examples if you eliminate "can."
For the most part, I agreed with the email in regard to using or not using
"let" and "use". However, in regard to "can", I think there are sometimes
when you want to tell users what they can do.
Three examples:
1. You can change the circuit being tested without exiting and reentering
the BlahTest module.
2. In Monitor mode, you can check the status of the circuit to be tested
without interrupting the circuit or transmitting test data.
3. Using these measurements, you can verify the digital integrity of one or
several DS0s in a digital facility.
Rewritten:
1. <not sure how to rewrite the first one>
2. In Monitor mode, check the status of the circuit to be tested without
interrupting the circuit or transmitting test data.
3. Using these measurements, verify the digital integrity of one or several
DS0s in a digital facility.
The second set have different meanings to the reading. I'm having trouble
expressing the difference understandably in written format, but I think it
is obvious that they have different implications for the reader. I think
"can" is acceptable when that is really what you mean.
\
Christi Carew
Technical Writer
christi -at- sageinst -dot- com
p. 831-761-6565
f. 831-761-2452
Sage Instruments
240 Airport Blvd.
Freedom, CA 95019
www.sageinst.com
If you can't explain it to an 8-year-old, you don't understand it.
-Albert Einstein
