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Subject:Re: Computer instruction in the present tense From:Dan 'Fergus' Roberts <droberts -at- PANIX -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 21 Jul 1995 20:46:12 -0400
Peggy_Thompson -at- ccmail -dot- osti -dot- gov wrote:
: When you are writing computer instruction, do you write in the
: present tense; for example:
: vs future tense:
: I have read that such instruction should be written in the
: PRESENT tense. What do you out there in the trenches do, and
: why?
In my work with IBM, the standard was present tense. I believe the reason
was easier translation support - supposedly present tense is easier to
understand than future. However, my present firm uses future tense <which,
after 7 years with present tense, kinda grates on my nerves [g]>.
Also, you could consider that present tense shows the reader exactly what is
happening as he goes along. He hits a key, the 'puter does this, he hits a
key, the 'puter does that. Future tense, without a specified time, could
leave a user thinking things are fine, when they are not.
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Dan 'Fergus' Roberts
droberts -at- panix -dot- com
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