Re: Active verbs (was: Basic Voice)

[Chris <cud -at- telecable -dot- es>]

I have no problem with "you can", or even with "allows" or "enables" as 
long as that's what you really mean.  The issue is determining what the 
phrase really means, comparing it with the actual situation, and making 
the conscious choice.

The toaster toasts your bread.  You can use it to toast bread-like 
substances that are in the shape of a slice.  For example, you can use 
it to toast slices of nasty sandwich bread, English muffins, or sliced 
whole-wheat bread.  You cannot use it to toast an unsliced loaf of 
bread, nor can you use it to cook a pizza.

Using the toaster enables you to toast your bread while you are frying 
your eggs.

(Marginally acceptable, if it comes from Marketing)
The popup feature allows you to leave your bread a-toasting without fear 
of fire.

(More accurately)
The toaster allows you to go to war, and will smile on your adventures, 
as long as you toast a virgin slice of bread every third Tuesday of the 
month.

--
Chris Despopoulos, maker of CudSpan Freeware...
Plugins to Enhance FrameMaker & FrameMaker+SGML
http://www.telecable.es/personales/cud/
cud -at- telecable -dot- es


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