RE: usage: when not if-then, how to use 'then'

["Cummings, Elizabeth" <CummEl -at- ncs -dot- com>]

Thank you!!  This has always been my gut feeling, but I haven't been able to
locate it in a reference book.  Might be right under my nose--any idea?

Thank you to all others, as well.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dannette Thompson [mailto:dthomps -at- foundationsoft -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 11:16 AM
To: 'Cummings, Elizabeth'; TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: usage: when not if-then, how to use 'then'


If you use "and" and "then" together, you may separate the two clauses with
a comma. If you use just "then" you must use a semicolon

Do X, and then do Y.
Do X; then do Y.

"Then" is not a conjunction. Thus, it cannot be used to join two clauses.

Hope this helps!

Dannette Thompson
Technical Writer
Foundation Software, Inc.
Brunswick, Ohio


-----Original Message-----
From: Cummings, Elizabeth [mailto:CummEl -at- ncs -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 11:54 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: usage: when not if-then, how to use 'then'


I'm working with a rough draft with several lines of various procedures that
were written using the following formula:

"Do X, then do Y."

Each clause is fairly lengthy. My question: How, if at all should I edit the
line?

1.	"Do X, then do Y." [Leave as is.]
2.	"Do X, and then do Y."
3.	"First do X, then do Y."
4.	"1. Do X.
2. Do Y."

I hesitate to use the fourth option because in most cases, the actions are
closely tied to one another (though not dependent upon one another, as in
the case of an if-then construction).

I seem to recall that there is a rule about not using "and" and "then"
together, but I also seem to recall a rule that forbids the original
construction.

 

Thanks for your input.

--Elizabeth Cummings


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