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I'd say options 1 and 3 are the most scannable for the average reader.
The semi-colon isn't used heavily these days (and I'm NOT saying that is a
good thing) so most average people pause for a millisecond or less when they
see it (less? nanosecond? All I'm saying is that, for whatever reason, I
think those readers who are not highly literate will "blip" at the
semi-colon and I consider that a bad thing).
Although when scanning the sentences the Main Words are those that have been
capitalised so I can quickly see that I need to Click File... Save As (ahh
yes, that was it, thinks Mrs.Average Reader, who then closes the online help
and returns to the application).
Are you saying that option 1 fails to get the information across to the user
because it is grammatically incorrect?
Frankly I can see myself writing option 1 then correcting to option 3 if
either I, or anyone else, notices my mistake.
And this is my point. WE ARE NOT AVERAGE. This is our profession, and yes we
should set the standard, and no there is no excuse for the bad grammarness
but I do feel we can be a little sensitive to this at times.
Right.
NOW can I drop out of this? Yes I think so, I shall return to lurkdom
fearful of asking a simple question.
*sigh*
Gordon
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=ciboodle -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=ciboodle -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Sean Brierley
Sent: 23 September 2008 14:08
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: "and then," or simply "then"?
"Click File, then click Save as" is scannable and gets the message across.
Grammatically, it's also incorrect.
"Click File; then click Save as" is scannable and gets the message across.
Grammatically, it's also correct.
"Click File, and then click Save as" is scannable and gets the message
across. Grammatically, it's also correct.
So, if you have three choices, all scannable, two grammatically correct and
one incorrect, why pick the incorrect one? Really, I'm onboard with picking
the incorrect one and consistently applying the incorrect one if there's a
good reason to do so. What's the good reason?
Cheers,
Sean
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