A real-life example of passive voice

Subject: A real-life example of passive voice
From: Arthur Comings <atc -at- CORTE-MADERA -dot- GEOQUEST -dot- SLB -dot- COM>
Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 14:55:12 PDT

I know we've beaten this subject to death, but I thought I'd share a
great example of ingrown passive voice before I edit it out of
existance. What makes it so special for me is the "allow you to," which
(when it seems to be needed) I always replace with "let you."
Anthropomorphism either way, I know, but it's how people talk, and it
seems to work.

Here, though, "allow you to" rubs salt in an already open wound:


******************************************************************

The many overlay options can be used to allow you to control the . . .

******************************************************************


How am I going to edit it? Probably like this:


You can use seismic overlay options to control the . . .


-- just threw the "seismic" in for free. It's always good to get specific.



Arthur Comings

GeoQuest
Corte Madera, California
atc -at- corte-madera -dot- geoquest -dot- slb -dot- com


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