TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Re: Screen vs. Window - and "right-hand" and "left-hand"
Subject:Re: Screen vs. Window - and "right-hand" and "left-hand" From:Hope Cascio <hope -dot- d -dot- cascio -at- US -dot- ARTHURANDERSEN -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 15 Jun 1998 12:12:39 -0400
Mary McWilliams Johnson <mary -at- SUPERCONNECT -dot- COM> wrote:
I agree with you about the use of "pane" and "box." However, I would
suggest that you omit "hand" when describing the element's position. This
is something that bothers me (though apparently it doesn't bother most
folks).=20
It seems to me that it's superflous to say "right-hand" when "right" is
quite definitive by itself. If you were to try to be consistent in your
descriptions, you would also need to say "top-hand pane" or "upper-hand
pane" and "bottom-hand pane" or "lower-hand pane." You might say that
there's no more reason for saying "right-hand pane" than there is for
saying "right-foot pane."
I understand that this is one of those "pet peeve" things (mine is misuse
of apostrophe's-- see, isn't that annoying?!) and I can see how
"right-hand" might be more clear than "right." I might even be tempted to
wonder if "right" means my right or the computer's (which is facing me).
Since the computer's perspective and mine share a common top and bottom,
these distinctions would be unnecessary to me.
