RE: Displays versus Appears-Which One?

Subject: RE: Displays versus Appears-Which One?
From: "Michael West" <mike -dot- west -at- oz -dot- quest -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 17:56:13 +1100

Nicole asked:

> BTW - What exactly is the rationale for total
> avoidance of the passive voice? ...
> Why, then, is passive so totally verboten?


Who said it WAS verboten?

It is well-known that the problem with
passive voice in instructional writing is
that it obscures the critical information,
which is "who does what, when".

It is also well-known that most vague
writing is vague because of
injudicious use of passive voice.

But as far as I'm aware, nobody says
it must never be used. (Oops, I just used it!)

--
Michael West
Technical Writer
Melbourne, Australia

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