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RE: Active versus passive (WAS Displays versus Appears-Which One?)
Subject:RE: Active versus passive (WAS Displays versus Appears-Which One?) From:"Michael West" <mike -dot- west -at- oz -dot- quest -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:24:57 +1100
Kim McGarghan wrote:
> Passive voice may be the best choice
> when describing a process.
And active voice is best when writing procedures.
If you know the difference between a process and a
procedure, you know why this is true. Unfortunately
a lot of so-called technical writers don't know the
difference.
I think a more useful rule is this:
Passive voice is fine when the
identity of the actor doesn't matter.
When it matters, use active voice.
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