RE: Grammar gurus: I have a question

["Michael West" <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com>]

> > In the sentence:
> > "It is recommended that the executive in charge of the audit
> > also signs off
> > this objective to prevent a type 2 diagnostic."
> >
> > Should it be "signs off" or "sign off"?
> >
> > The voices in my head are arguing and need another opinion :-)
>
 
You are dealing here with subjunctive mood. This is a hotly contested issue
among the usage cognoscenti. No wonder that us poor slobs struggle with it.
US English and UK/Aus English are divided on this question. The US position
is the more conservative in this instance.

"It is recommended that the executive sign ... " is the preferred
subjunctive formation in US English. In Australian and UK English, you would
get an argument, with some preferring "signs" and some preferring "sign" and
some scratching their heads in profound indifference.

Um.... This isn't what you've asked, but I advise getting rid of "sign off".
That's jargon. I would prefer "approve", with the understanding that
approval is given by signature -- as has been the case for many years, going
back long before "sign off" was dreamt of. 

I also dislike "it is recommended that". It is recommended by whom? Why are
you ashamed to own up? I would write, "We recommend that" or "Please <do
this>". Have the courage of your recommendations. Making them anonymous
renders them ineffectual.
--
Mike West

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

ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing 
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor,  Microsoft Word or 
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. 
http://www.doctohelp.com

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info. 

Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat