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.
Subject:RE. Grammar Survey Selection Not in English From:Yves Jeaurond <yves_jeaurond -at- CBC -dot- CA> Date:Tue, 19 May 1998 14:45:00 EDT
Chris Welch-Hutchings:
<grin> What?! No mouse?
Btw, none of the proposed choices are in English.
1) When finished, press END.--When you have finished... Though ellipsis may be
rhetorically correct, it does not entail grammatical correctness.
2) When done, press END.--When the work is done (to avoid ambiguity with "you
are" done...)
3) Press END when < YOU ARE > finished.
4) Press END when (see above) done. Also check out Fowler's "Modern English
Usage" (the "do" article).
As others have indicated, indicating purpose before action is a good rule. The
sole exception would be the last step in a numbered list, where context
supplies meaning. Even the first step can be exempt--should its function be one
of anacephaleosis (or some other form of summary). "Press END." should suffice.
