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I understand what Janice is saying but I have a real problem with "The
File dialog appears". I can't rid myself of a mental picture of rabbits
and hats. I wonder if anyone has another alternative to displays, is
displayed, and appears?
Toni
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Janice Gelb [SMTP:janiceg -at- MARVIN -dot- ENG -dot- SUN -dot- COM]
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 1998 6:26 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Re: transitive verb question
>
>>Cyndy Davis wrote:
> >>
>> I have a grammar question. "Display" is usually a transitive
verb,
> >> meaning that it needs a complement to make a complete sentence. In
>> numerous manuals I have seen display used without a
complement (i.e.,
> >> The File dialog displays.).
> >>
> >> Has this verb mutated with the age of computers or is it one of
> those
> >>action verbs that changes with the intended meaning of the sentence.
> I
> >> would be interested in finding out how other writers use this verb.
>
>The verb has mutated but please don't join the pack. The verb
>should be used as "The application displays the File dialog
box"
>not "The File dialog box displays." Writers who want to get
away from
>the wordiness of the former, or the passive voice of "The File
dialog
>box is displayed," should use "The File dialog box appears."
