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This thread ignores translation. Making the introductory phrase a complete grammatical sentence makes it easier for translators and non-native speakers of English to understand the procedure.
By starting with a infinitive phrase, every subsequent step is grammatically part of a potentially very long serial sentence.
By starting with a complete grammatical sentence, each step acts as an independent sentence.
Just sayin'
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> Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:47:31 -0700
> From: becca_price -at- yahoo -dot- com
> Subject: introducing steps
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> I'm taking a class in technical writing. My teacher says never to introduce a series of steps with an infinitive (To install Sigil) but to use an independent clause ("To install Sigil, follow these steps:" or words to that effect. To me, the clause "follow these steps" is imlied by the fact that steps follow. Still, it's the teacher, so I have to follow her style.
>
> Is there a more graceful way to introduce steps? how do yo do it? I'm pretty much coming up dry.
>
> Thanks
>
> Becca
>
>
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