NON-DELIVERY of: Re: Sentence structure

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                            Re: Sentence structure
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                   Ronni Perry -at- CRWMS at DL-Notes -at- DL_CCMAIL
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Comments: To: TECHWR-L -at- VM1 -dot- ucc -dot- okstate -dot- edu

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> "...identify the need or condition first and follow it with the
instruction."

> A. To drive a car, first go to the department of transportation and apply
>  for a driver's license.

>C. To access the reports database, exit the personnel screen and return
>  to the main menu.

>dee (jans -at- apsmsmail -dot- pcmail -dot- prc -dot- com)


I believe you're right. Another way to think of it is that you first state
the requirement and then how to meet it. You need to "drive a car," "access
the reports database." The need occurs to you before you try to figure out
how to meet it; that's just basic temporality--state the problem (the
condition, the requirement), then give the fix (the instruction). Stating
the need provides needed context for further statements about how to meet
it. Otherwise, why should the reader care? S/he's being told to exit the
personnel screen, but why should s/he? What's the need? Clear that up
first. Why baffle and irritate the reader by making him/her wait till the
end of every sentence before s/he can learn the point of it?

steve wax                                 stevewx -at- eskimo -dot- com
-------------------------------------------------------------
After the final no there comes a yes
and on that yes the future world depends.  --Wallace Stevens

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