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:What does a window do??? From:Nancy Smith <smithcds -at- ICI -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 14 Jul 1999 17:48:15 -0400
Help, please!
I've been doing tech writing for more than 17 years and I am one who cringes
when I read "The ABC Window displays." I had hoped it was a matter of
concientious writers' trying too hard to stay in active voice -- even to the
point of using a transitive verb incorrectly as an intransitive verb!
On the other hand, I don't want to be one of those dyed-in-the-wool purists
who cannot change with the times -- when that is appropriate.
When I asked one technical writer where she learned to say that, she thought
she had learned it in a course at a big university.
So, folks -- what's the latest, greatest, most appropriate expression to use
in a procedure to indicate that the software is responding to the user
action and "Behold -- The window --- !" (does what???)
And, can you point me to an authoritative source for whatever your answer
is?