RE: Display, Displays, or Appears

["Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>]

Andrew Warren wrote:

>     A dialog box doesn't have a real-world physical equivalent
>     like a folder or document -- it's OUTSIDE the desktop
>     metaphor -- so it doesn't have to "open" like a folder or
>     document.  It's an intrusive, metaphor-breaking interface
>     between the user and the computer; "appears" describes its
>     behavior perfectly.  Plus, "appears" has an antonym that you
>     can use when the box goes away; "is displayed" doesn't.

Excellent! I've never understood the irrational negative reaction some
people have to "appears." This is a fine two-part rebuttal of that point
of view. 

As for Tim's query, there is no "standard convention" precisely because
of the irrational pig-headedness of those who disagree with Andrew and
me. :-) 

My preference would be something like this: 

To <do some task>:

1. Click XYZ. 
2. In the XYZ dialog box, <do some step>. 
3. ...


Richard


Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------






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