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.
> Can anyone suggest an antonym for "register?"
> I am thinking of "deregister" or "unregister."
I would use neither. Since both are unusual constructions, you will have to
define them for the reader or risk your reader getting lost because s/he
doesn't know what you mean - and that interrupts the learning process.
Also, since you're worried about an international audience, an unfamiliar
term such as "unregister" or "deregister" will probably cause more problems,
since it isn't in the dictionary, and probably has no translation in another
language. In fact, translating the document may not be easy.
The simplest way to do this is to simply add entries to "register your
program," "modify your registration information" and "delete (remove) your
registration information."
Jeff Hanvey
Memphis, TN
"The worst is not, so long as we can say 'This is the worst.'" (King Lear)