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But I do enjoy these threads. All sorts of opinions. The best thing is, I'm NOT the only one who thinks about this stuff.
-----Original Message-----
From: David Harrison [mailto:dharrison -at- moldmasters -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:01 AM
To: Porrello, Leonard; Cardimon, Craig; 'Combs, Richard'; 'Ryan Pollack'; 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
Subject: RE: Which style of giving instructions is more effective?
<grin> Unless the next two words are "boldly go" </grin>
I don't think it is a big deal, and starting with "To" is certainly not incorrect.
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David Harrison | Controllers
Mold-Masters (UK) Limited | Global Hot Runner and Temperature Control Technology Netherwood Road | Rotherwas Ind. Est.
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Tel: +44 (0) 1432 265 768 | Fax: +44 (0) 1432 263 782 mailto:dharrison -at- moldmasters -dot- com | www.moldmasters.com
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Sent on 20.12.2012 17:01 by David Harrison
-----Original Message-----
From: Cardimon, Craig [mailto:ccardimon -at- M-S-G -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 3:58 AM
To: Porrello, Leonard; 'Combs, Richard'; 'Ryan Pollack'; 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
Subject: RE: Which style of giving instructions is more effective?
I start sentences with "To" all the time. Shrug.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Porrello, Leonard
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 6:37 PM
To: Combs, Richard; Ryan Pollack; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Which style of giving instructions is more effective?
Yes, a couple of other people corrected me (in private) about my mistaken claim that "To" in "To restart..." is a preposition. But I am confused. Did Kat and Bill say something about what part of speech "To" is?
Regardless, that I was wrong about the part of speech doesn't change the gist of what I was saying. "To restart" is a relatively weak verb compared to "Restart" or "Enter". If I were skimming a procedure, "To" would just get in my way. "To" is just one more little thing my brain has to process while I am trying to engage it to read directions to solve a problem.
-----Original Message-----
From: Combs, Richard [mailto:richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 1:57 PM
To: Porrello, Leonard; Ryan Pollack; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Which style of giving instructions is more effective?
Porrello, Leonard wrote:
> For what it's worth, I don't like starting procedural steps or
> references with prepositions (for example, "To" in "To restart ....").
> Prepositions don't give the reader useful information.
It's not a preposition. "To restart" is a verb (the infinitive).
Kat and Bill are correct.
Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-903-6372
------
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