Open vs Appear, Yet Again (was: "RE: WG: Newbie question - GUI terminology")

["nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il" <nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il>]

Janice writes:
> As for "opens," I've been trying to pin down why it
> bothers me and I haven't been able to come up with
> a grammar-related explanation.

I don't think it's the intransitivity that's the
problem.  In real life, you could say "pull the
cord, and the window opens."

I think that maybe it's the imperfection of the
parallel between a display window and a conventional
window.  In real life, a closed window isn't invisible, 
it just sits there closed.  And an open window is, 
if anything, less visible than a closed one.

However, it's universally accepted that to eliminate
a window from the display screen is to close it; so
it's reasonable that to do the opposite is to open
the window.

------------------------------------------------
  Mark L. Levinson - nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il
------------------------------------------------
Mark discourses to fellow Israeli techwriters at
http://www.elephant.org.il/columns/why_of_style/
------------------------------------------------



--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .


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

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.