RE: "and then," or simply "then"?

["Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
> techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
> .com] On Behalf Of Tom Johnson
> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 2:38 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: "and then," or simply "then"?
> 
> I've seen a lot of variations with this, and I think all are 
> acceptable.
> 
> "Click Gimfratz, then click the display to add new 
> locations."  If the two independent clauses are short, you 
> can use a comma rather than a semicolon.
> It's a gray area here.
> 

Not for an editor, it isn't. Two independent clauses need semicolons to
separate them -- or a conjunction.

> "Click Gimfratz, and then click the display to add new 
> locations." In this style, the comma after Gimfratz is 
> allowed because the two independent clauses are implied. 
> [You] click Gimfratz, and then [you] click the display to add 
> new locations.
> 

It's not allowed -- it's required.

-----------

Bottom line: There's a grammatically correct way (several, actually), but
"then" is an adverb, not a conjunction.

General concept: For editing questions, do not consult a technical writer;
consult a technical editor.

Bonnie Granat
http://www.GranatEdit.com


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