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I had this discussion earlier in my career with someone who wouldn't let
go of the "appears" issue. The word "appear" is usually used in what I
call a "response" in a procedure and is the alternative to the "is
displayed" construction. For example...
1. Click Choose Filters. The Choose Filters dialog box appears.
(there was no magic...the user clicked "Choose Filter") It was the
result of a user action.
Now if your first sentence is, for example, "The Choose filter dialog
box appears on your desktop," that's where it wouldn't make much sense.
I avoid it all and go with the "Click Choose Filters to display the
Choose Filters dialog box" style.
But it's Monday and I'd rather be outside...
Robert J. Landry
Senior Technical Writer
Rapt Inc.
415-932-2687 (office)
robert -dot- landry -at- rapt -dot- com
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+robert -dot- landry=rapt -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+robert -dot- landry=rapt -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Beth Agnew
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 9:37 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: WG: Newbie question - GUI terminology
The dislike for "appear" is the same as for "invoke", or any other term
which implies some magical action on the part of the computer user or
the computer. In the early days of personal computers, writers wanted to
help users realize that the computer was just a machine, like a car,
that anyone could learn how to operate. There was no "silly wand waving
or foolish incantation", spell, or magical technique that would get it
to work. Using magical language subtly contributed to the impression
that there was arcane knowledge about computers that one needed to
obtain. At the time, it seemed to take supplication to an adept in the
programming priesthood to get it.
Hence we have wizards to help with some user tasks, but we don't like
them. :-)
James Barrow wrote:
> When I first began tech writing, a senior tech writer edited some of
my
> material and, wherever I used "appear", he crossed that out and added
> "NEVER!". I still don't understand what the major faux pas was on
that one.
--
Beth Agnew
Catch the Buzz: http://bethbuzz.blogspot.com
STC Presentation archived at: http://www.301url.com/podcasting
Professor, Technical Communication
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
Toronto, ON 416.491.5050 x3133 http://www.tinyurl.com/83u5u
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