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IMHO, "Once" is not good in this example. "Once" has several
meanings and a user can trip up when he encounters this word.
The first definition is "one time" or "one iteration" and that
is the only way I use it. Because there are other words ("when"
or "after") for the other meanings, and "when" and "after" would
be clearer than "once" in your example ("After the thigamagig is
installed ..."), I would not use "once."
I would add that, "When the thingamajig is installed" could mean
"at the time it is being installed" or "at any time after it was
installed."
I guess I would agree that "once" might be more difficult for ESL
folks, so perhaps we need to choose among
When the thingamajig is being installed...
&
When the thingamajig has been installed...
&
After the thingamajig is installed...
--Guy K. Haas gkhaas -at- usa -dot- net or ghaas -at- selectica -dot- com
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