Re: Overuse of gerunds in headings

["Edwin Skau" <eddy -dot- skau -at- gmail -dot- com>]

As with other areas in language and linguistics,  a "standard" or
"guideline" defines the preferred way of doing or saying something. There
are exceptions. While consistency is desirable, clarity is critical, and
will always override the need to be consistent, when the two clash.

When you deviate from the standard, it makes sense to have your deviations
conform to a recognizable pattern.

Edwin


> >
> > Whirlers,
> >
> > I have worked in several Pubs departments where the standard heading
> > style was defined as requiring gerunds.  That works fine for me when the
> > subject is Installing, Configuring, Restoring...stuff like that.
> >
> > However, for an introductory chapter or section, am I breaking a
> > well-established standard by calling it, for example, "Introduction
> > to..." or "Overview of..."?  I usually see, in similar situations, that
> > the author uses "Understanding ..." in order to conform to gerund
> > orthodoxy.  For some unknown reason, that "Understanding ..." bugs me.
> >
> > -- Will
>
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