RE: The contrarian strikes again (was: "RE: Open vs Appear, Yet A gain")

Subject: RE: The contrarian strikes again (was: "RE: Open vs Appear, Yet A gain")
From: Kevin Amery <kamery -at- opentext -dot- com>
To: "'Mike Starr'" <mike -at- writestarr -dot- com>, "'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:27:58 -0400

"Outlook Express displays a Save Message As dialog box similar to the one
shown here" doesn't both me. The formulation I don't like is "The Save
Message As dialog box is displayed." The first example is active voice and
makes it clear who all the actors are; the second one implies the actor.




Kevin Amery
Technical Writer, Research and Development

Open Text Corporation
1 Sparks Ave.
North York, ON. M2H 2W1
CANADA

Phone: +1 (416)496-2200-2402
e-mail: kamery -at- opentext -dot- com
Web site: http://www.opentext.com





This e-mail is protected by domestic and international copyright laws and
treaties and is the property of Open Text Corporation, it may contain
confidential and/or trade secret information of the Open Text Corporation
and/or its subsidiaries (OTC), and may be subject to legal privilege in
favor of OTC. This e-mail may only be lawfully received, accessed, displayed
on a computer screen, printed, copied, and/or used by the specific
addressee(s) named above ("Authorized Recipient") for the purpose for which
it was sent by OTC. All other rights and licenses to this e-mail are fully
reserved to OTC. If you are not an Authorized Recipient, you are required to
immediately delete this e-mail in its entirety without printing, copying,
using, and/or re-transmitting this e-mail, either in whole or in part. The
transmission of this e-mail by OTC is not to be construed as a waiver by OTC
and/or the individual sending this e-mail on behalf of OTC of any of their
respective rights or privileges at law or otherwise, howsoever arising.


-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Starr [mailto:mike -at- writestarr -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 3:04 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: The contrarian strikes again (was: "RE: Open vs Appear, Yet Again")

Once again, I'm going against the flow (see my contrarian viewpoint on the
WinHelp thread). If I keep this up I ought to end up as popular as Andrew
Plato was before he wandered off in disgust <grin>.

My approach is:

"Choose the File>>Save As... command. Outlook Express displays a Save
Message As dialog box similar to the one shown here." <screen capture>

On the other end, it's:

"Click the Save button to accept the changes you've made, save the file and
close the Save Message As dialog box."

I try to write as I'd speak and this is as close as I can come to what I'd
actually say to someone I was helping to accomplish a task.

Mike
--
Mike Starr WriteStarr Information Services
Technical Writer - Online Help Developer - Website developer
Graphic Designer - Desktop Publisher - MS Office Expert
Phone: (262) 694-1028 - Tollfree: (877) 892-1028 - Fax:(262) 697-6334
Email: mike -at- writestarr -dot- com - Web: http://www.writestarr.com
----- Original Message -----
Message: 43
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:40:42 -0700
From: "Andrew Warren" <awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Open vs Appear, Yet Again (was: "RE: WG: Newbie question
- GUIterminology")

Kevin Amery wrote:

> The problem (to me at least) with "is displayed" is it's passive
voice.
> "Opens" or "appears" is active voice.

... and "open" and "appear" also have antonyms -- which "is displayed"
lacks -- to describe what happens when the dialog box is dismissed.

-Andrew

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help
file format or printed documentation. Learn more at
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as kamery -at- opentext -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/kamery%40opentext.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: RE: Open vs Appear,Yet Again (was: "RE: WG: Newbie question - GUI terminology")
Next by Author: RE: Open vs Appear,Yet Again
Previous by Thread: RE: handbook vs training manual
Next by Thread: RE: Open vs Appear,Yet Again


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads