Extraneous modifiers? I don't think so

Subject: Extraneous modifiers? I don't think so
From: "Robert Parker" <rparker -at- welkintech -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 09:30:05 -0800

-----Original Message-----
From: Ackerson, Allan [mailto:aackerson -at- logicon -dot- com]
[snip]
>a) Leave the building.
>This conveys no urgency.

Exactly my point. An instruction may not solely describe the action that
should be taken, but the *manner* in which it should be taken. I entirely
agree that extraneous modifiers can cloud an instruction, but modifiers
aren't *sui generis* extraneous.
[snip]
>Do you think that if you leave "immediately" off the
>sentence that people are going to leave the burning building slowly and at
a
>leisurely pace?

Having been a high-school teacher for eight years...yes, I'm quite sure that
at least some people will require the extra intensifiers. They may also
require a boot in the keister, but the <kick></kick> tag won't be
implemented in the current version of the help system.

Sincerely^H^H^HRegards,
Robert

:-)





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