Re: Grammar Question

["Kathleen MacDowell" <kathleen -at- writefortheuser -dot- com>]

Fred, All,

This is one instance in which I probably disagree with (some/many) technical
communicators. IMHO, the software doesn't do something when you press a
button, it will do something when the button is pressed (or more actively,
Press the button and the x screen [or whatever] will be displayed, etc.)

I argue that the additional clarity added by the appropriate tense offsets
the additional words. If someone pauses to think through what is written,
everything is consistent. Otherwise it isn't.

.02


On 7/9/07, Fred Ridder <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
>
> If the context here is technical writing rather than
> general English composition style, my suggestion is
> to consider carefully whether the use of future tense
> is really necessary. In technical writing, the future
> tense is generally not necessary to the meaning
> you are trying to convey, so that it is often more
> appropriate to eliminate instances of "will" from the
> outset rather than agonize over whether you need
> to add even more of them in the interest of grammatical
> correctness.
>
>
> >From: Ben <baj357 -at- gmail -dot- com>
> >To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> >Subject: Grammar Question
> >Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 16:01:22 -0700
> >
> >Sorry for the basic grammar question.
> >
> >
> >
> >Example: He will draw a picture and write his name on it.
> >
> >
> >
> >Question: Does the second verb phrase imply the use of the helping or
> >auxiliary verb "will?" Or, must one explicitly write in the word "will?"
> Is
> >it necessary?
> >
> >
> >
> >Thanks!
> >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
> >Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
> >printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
> >Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> >http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
> >
> >True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> >Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> >documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
> >
> >---
> >You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as docudoc -at- hotmail -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/docudoc%40hotmail.com
> >
> >
> >To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> >
> >Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
> >http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
> >
>
>
> --
> Kathleen MacDowell
> www.writefortheuser.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -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%40web.techwr-l.com


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

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