Dangling...

[Richard Mateosian <srm -at- C2 -dot- ORG>]

>I had this phrase in my instructions

>   "If you are using the (unit name) to send data over a LAN, . . . ,"

>and my editor took out "you are" to make "If using."

Your editor is setting you up for a dangling participle if the subject of
the next clause isn't doing the using.

OK: If using the framis, turn it on first.

NOT OK: If using the framis, the widget light turns amber.

There's really nothing wrong with leaving "you are" in.  ...RM

Richard Mateosian        http://www.c2.org/~srm/   President, Berkeley STC
Freelance Technical Writer     srm -at- c2 -dot- org        Review Editor, IEEE Micro