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I like "The File dialog box opens." "Appears" sounds like Merlin wrote
the manual. Just a personal neuroticism I guess.
If you like some form or "display", use "The File dialog box is
displayed." Yuck, but better than "displays".
However, as my grammar professor said, "if the usage communicates the
message, then it's OK". That's English for you.
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Lorin C. Ledger
Technical Writer
New Horizon Technologies
Phone: (250) 763-0034
Fax: (250) 763-0039
lledger -at- total-care -dot- com
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> ----------
> From: Janice Gelb[SMTP:janiceg -at- MARVIN -dot- ENG -dot- SUN -dot- COM]
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 1998 10:26 AM
> 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."
>
>
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> janice -dot- gelb -at- eng -dot- sun -dot- com | message is the return address.
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