Re: Anthropomorphism [was RE Table punctuation]

[Janice Gelb <janice -dot- gelb -at- sun -dot- com>]

Yves JEAUROND wrote:
> David Chinell:
>    
>   You wrote: Finally, a nit-pick about "allows you to."
>  I don't like that formulation [...] in our end-user material.
>  I'd prefer "lets you."
>    
>   You bring up a very good point on usage. For some verbs,
>  a human subject is a necesssity. :-) A user can allow software
>  to be installed on a PC, but SW can't allow anything.
>   And _The Microsoft Manual of Style_ [1st ed., 'allow'] agrees with you.
>    
>   I'd say the same for "to let", too. In a procedure, it can be
>  just as clear to be direct:
>   => Type data in field x.  // Rather than "Field x lets you enter data."
>   => Enter data using field x.

We prefer either saying "Use Field X to enter data" or
"Field X enables you to enter data." I don't see much
of a difference between "lets" and "allows" either.

>   It helps to view the SW as a mechanical device,
>  rather than as an ersatz clerk, typesetter or attendant
>  awaiting your bidding.
> 
>   Empower users, not the SW :-)
>   Bending the language to attribute human qualities to SW is
> kind of strange, even if for the sake of expediency. 
>    

Although I generally agree with you about the
misuse of "allows" and "lets," there is one
context in which software can indeed allow or not
allow certain behaviors. For example, saying "Write
access allows the user to modify the file" or "The
field allows entries using uppercase or lowercase
letters" seem acceptable to me. The problem is that
writers commonly use "allows" or "lets" in contexts
other than permission.

Common anthropomorphisms I see that I would strictly
prohibit are more along the lines of "the application
is interested in" or "the servlet knows" or "the C
processor doesn't understand FORTRAN."

-- Janice

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