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.
Subject:RE: Displays versus Appears-Which One From:"Hager, Harry (US - East Brunswick)" <hhager -at- dc -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 15 Nov 2000 06:14:17 -0800
Mario,
This is another one of those recurring battles in tech writing.
I avoid this battle and have a solution that does not need the use of
"displays" or "appears."
I use the word "opens" as in the following:
Select ABC. The ABC window opens.
Another nice thing about this technique is that the opposite action for
opening the window is closing the window.
It's simple. Windows open. Windows close. The window opens. The window
closes.
This eliminates the displays/appears problem.
What word would you use for the opposite action of displaying the window?
What word would you use for the opposite action of the window appearing
(disappearing?)?
If the situation somehow demands a choice between displays and appears, I
use displays and I have an object for the transitive verb displays, as in
the following:
Select ABC. The program displays the ABC window. (The program
displays the ABC list.)
I once had a tech writing manager (in 1985) that did not permit the use of
appears because he said that the only things that appear are ghosts.
H. Jim Hager
Deloitte Consulting
hhager -at- dc -dot- com
My last tech editor would ding me if I used 'appears'
instead of 'displays' when describing the action a
window or other grahical element "takes" (for lack of
a better word) when you click on it. She said to use
'displays' instead. I got into thaet habit.
On this job, the other two tech writers say they have
never heard of this, and consider 'appears' to be
fine.
Example: Select ABC. The GHI window displays, on
which you can..."
as opposed to "Select ABC. The GHI window appears, on
which you can..."
Which one?
Thanks
Mario
This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information
intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If
you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and are
hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this
message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by SOLUTIONS, Conferences and Seminars for Communicators
Publications Management Clinic, TECH*COMM 2001 Conference, and more http://www.SolutionsEvents.com or 800-448-4230
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
