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Subject:RE: Grammar gurus: I have a question From:"Barbara Philbrick" <caslon -at- alltel -dot- net> To:"'Michael West'" <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:49:55 -0400
Thank you for the additional information on the subjunctive. Always good to
refresh my knowledge!
Regarding "sign off," we are stuck with it. I'm documenting an application
that uses "sign off" as the name of the boxes users click to evidence
approval. In this case, I think the jargon is OK; the documents and
application are for auditors (all internal to the firm) who use this term
regularly.
Warm regards,
Barb
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+caslon=alltel -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+caslon=alltel -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
Michael West
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 8:05 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Grammar gurus: I have a question
> > 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
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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
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