RE: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used if there are thr ee or moreselections?)

Subject: RE: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used if there are thr ee or moreselections?)
From: "Audeh, Ida" <iaudeh -at- rational -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 15:11:34 -0700



Laura_Hammett -at- scruggs -dot- com wrote:

> My team solves this dilemma in the following way:
>
> Use "displays". "Appears" implies a mystical, fairy-like presentation of
> material.
>
> Example:
>
> After you click New, the Product dialog displays.

I would say (and so would MS Manual of Style) "is displayed." "Appears" may
seem spooky to you, but I think having the dialog box take action is kind of
creepy, too. This is a good example of an appropriate use of the passive
tone.

Also, the example above raises the question: displays what?
Ida
(a list lurker)
PS: I'm fairly new to this list and want to say, thanks a lot; it is very
informative!

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

Planning to attend IPCC 01, October 24-27 in Santa Fe? Sign up by
October 3 and get a substantial discount! Program information,
online registration, and more on http://ieeepcs.org/2001/

Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

Previous by Author: Reviewer of Doom (was: RE: Secretary Proofing Manuals?)
Next by Author: RE: what's *.dat?
Previous by Thread: RE: Style Comparison
Next by Thread: RE: Display or appear (Was: ...)


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads