TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
How about if the intent is to inform that it's a side-effect of pressing
ENTER that changes will be saved? But that the primary purpose of the
ENTER pressing is something else entirely? Does it then become
appropriate?
I know it's a somewhat farfetched scenario, but that's kind of the sense
I got reading the original example.
-Brian H.
-----Original Message----- From: Leonard Porrello
I'm not sure why, in instructions, you would ever say, "After you press
ENTER...." Instead wouldn't you want to use an imperative: "Press
ENTER." From that, "changes are saved" or "the application saves your
changes" follows. And as Dan suggests, "Press ENTER to save your
changes" would be best.
I would use the future perfect only in introductory material, a theory
of operation doc, or requirements documentation. I can see no place for
it in step by step instructions.
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days. http://www.doctohelp.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-