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Subject:Re: "Turn on the radio?" From:"Dick Margulis " <margulis -at- mail -dot- fiam -dot- net> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 9 Nov 2001 12:05:12 -0500
You have a dilemma. (Yeah, that's what it's called.)
On the one hand, your goal is to remove ambiguity. If you've ever seen a ballerina turn on a music box, you know how turning on a radio might be misinterpreted.
On the other hand, you want to avoid any possibility of sexual double entendre. Turning the radio on could be construed as analogous to turning your date on.
I'd vote for "switch the radio on," which avoids both problems.
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: amy -at- amyprobst -dot- com
Reply-To: amy -at- amyprobst -dot- com
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 9:59:18
>Bright folks of the TECHWR-L:
>
>May I have your guidance on a word-usage issue? I have my attractive
>Chicago Manual of Style sitting here next to me, but don't know what this
>kind of thing is "called."
>
>Two coworkers say this is correct:
>"Turn on the radio."
>
>I say it sounds better this way:
>"Turn the radio on."
>
>Think instructional manual, if that matters.
>
>
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