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RE: The contrarian strikes again (was: "RE: Open vs Appear, Yet A gain")
Subject:RE: The contrarian strikes again (was: "RE: Open vs Appear, Yet A gain") From:Kevin Amery <kamery -at- opentext -dot- com> To:"'Mike Starr'" <mike -at- writestarr -dot- com>, "'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:27:58 -0400
"Outlook Express displays a Save Message As dialog box similar to the one
shown here" doesn't both me. The formulation I don't like is "The Save
Message As dialog box is displayed." The first example is active voice and
makes it clear who all the actors are; the second one implies the actor.
Kevin Amery
Technical Writer, Research and Development
Open Text Corporation
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Starr [mailto:mike -at- writestarr -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 3:04 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: The contrarian strikes again (was: "RE: Open vs Appear, Yet Again")
Once again, I'm going against the flow (see my contrarian viewpoint on the
WinHelp thread). If I keep this up I ought to end up as popular as Andrew
Plato was before he wandered off in disgust <grin>.
My approach is:
"Choose the File>>Save As... command. Outlook Express displays a Save
Message As dialog box similar to the one shown here." <screen capture>
On the other end, it's:
"Click the Save button to accept the changes you've made, save the file and
close the Save Message As dialog box."
I try to write as I'd speak and this is as close as I can come to what I'd
actually say to someone I was helping to accomplish a task.
Mike
--
Mike Starr WriteStarr Information Services
Technical Writer - Online Help Developer - Website developer
Graphic Designer - Desktop Publisher - MS Office Expert
Phone: (262) 694-1028 - Tollfree: (877) 892-1028 - Fax:(262) 697-6334
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----- Original Message -----
Message: 43
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:40:42 -0700
From: "Andrew Warren" <awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Open vs Appear, Yet Again (was: "RE: WG: Newbie question
- GUIterminology")
Kevin Amery wrote:
> The problem (to me at least) with "is displayed" is it's passive
voice.
> "Opens" or "appears" is active voice.
... and "open" and "appear" also have antonyms -- which "is displayed"
lacks -- to describe what happens when the dialog box is dismissed.
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