Re: Future Tense Controversy

["T. Word Smith" <techwordsmith -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

Future tense doesn't necessarily mean passive; future
tense can certainly be active voice.

Ask the lawyers what the legal reason is for the use
of the future tense.

Explain to the lawyers that you want your documents to
be clear and understandable, and not be confusing and
open to interpretation like a legal document.

Without a clear set of reasons for using the future
tense, tell the lawyers where to get off. Note that
you won't practice law if they don't practice
technical writing.

--- marybl -at- libertymedical -dot- com wrote:

> Our department writes training manuals, IS user
> manuals, and company
> policies and procedures. We have always written
> these in present tense,
> active voice. The lawyers are now wanting us to
> write everything in future
> tense (and thus putting it in passive voice).


=====
T.

"Money makes the world go 'round is an incomplete statement; money is the fuel, and stupidity is the short bus that burns it." (Bill Swallow-02/04)

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Search - Find what you?re looking for faster
http://search.yahoo.com

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ROBOHELP FOR FRAMEMAKER AS LOW AS $299! Offer expires March 31.
Publish your FrameMaker documents online -- quickly and easily!
                                                                                
New licenses are only $899 for one and $499 for additional licenses.
Use a competitor's product? Switch to RoboHelp for FrameMaker
for only $299! Buy today: CALL 1-800-462-4420 or 1 858-847-7900.
Hurry, offer expires March 31 2004.


---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -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.