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Subject:Re: Which is correct? From:"Kulis, Carene" <Carene -dot- Kulis -at- WESTGROUP -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 29 Jan 1999 10:08:51 -0600
From the Microsoft Manual of Style of Technical Communications (only if you
want to listen to MS):
Use appears as an intransitive verb; use displays as a transitive verb.
Ex.
If you try to quit the program without saving the file, a message appears.
The screen displays a message if you don't log on accurately.
open (adj, v)
Users open windows, files, documents, and folders. They can click or choose
an item to open it. Do not use open to describe choosing a command, a menu,
an icon, an option, or other similar element that doesn't produce a working
file in a window. Describe the item as open, not opened, as in an "open
file" and the "open document".
Carene Kulis
carene -dot- kulis -at- westgroup -dot- com
716-231-6052
