RE: POLL: A question of rhetoric (not a rhetorical question)

[edunn -at- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

According to our rules for writing warnings or cautions, you still avoid using
"Do Not" or negatives.

Example:

Component weighs 350 lb. Ensure lifting device with correct capacity is used.
Failure to do so may result in serious injury to personnel or damage to
equipment.

Each warning has three parts, state the danger, how to avoid the danger, what
will happen if the correct precautions are not taken.

Eric L. Dunn



Naturally, Kevin, there is a difference between a warning not to do
something which could cause irreparable damage ("do not restart the
system") and an instruction which can easily be given without using the
negative. The original sentences submitted by Roy Jacobsen were:

-"You can assign at item to only one group"
-"You can't assign an item to more than one group"

If I were writing a procedure to defuse a bomb, as you say, I would NOT
hesitate to use "do not."

Johanne Cadorette




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