RE: active vs. passive voice

["McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>]

On Behalf Of Leonard C. Porrello objected:
> 
> Good question. I was assuming the reader would read both sentences
> before carrying out the directions. In other words, he's going to
read,
> "1. Click <New Entry>. The New Entry window will appear" in its
entirety
> before he gets around to actually clicking <New Entry>. So, the event
> that takes place after he clicks <New Entry> actually occurs in the
> future. Hence, the way I formulated the sentence is most mimetic of
> reality (according to my assumption). And although I do not have
strong
> objections to what I think you are suggesting, namely, "1. Click <New
> Entry>. The New Entry window appears," it seems to me that this
> formulation does not represent reality quite as well (as it is
entirely
> in the present). 

I think that inherent in "Click <New Entry>. The New Entry window
appears..." carries the unvoiced assumption:
"Click <New Entry> and, as a result, the New Entry window appears..."

Or, consider "Click <New Entry>. The New Entry window appears..." to be
the imperative expression of the declarative (and passively aggressive):

"[When you] click <New Entry>, the New Entry window is quickly written
in glowing pixels upon the display device ..."   Oh... wait... I was
eliding into another discussion there.  Digressing, too.

:-)

Kevin


The information contained in this electronic mail transmission 
may be privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected 
from disclosure. If you have received this communication in 
error, please notify us immediately by replying to this 
message and deleting it from your computer without copying 
or disclosing it.


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

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.