RE: Preposition at Beginning or End?

["sbuckley" <sbuckley -at- onlinewriter -dot- com>]

First, I would cut back on the wording so the steps are faster to read.
Users, especially end users, don't care what type of box or list.  They just
want to know where to do their thing.  Also, click doesn't have to be
continually repeated.  If they work on a computer or own one, they've
learned click by the time they get to your application.  

Secondly, telling users where to go first is very helpful in them finding
where to do their thing.

Therefore I would word both as:

In the Country list, select USA.

AND

In the Name box, type your name.


-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sbuckley=onlinewriter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sbuckley=onlinewriter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Keith Hansen
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 9:18 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Preposition at Beginning or End?

Which sentence do you prefer:
Sentence No. 1: "From the Country drop-down list, select USA."
Sentence No. 2: "Select USA from the Country drop-down list."

To me, the first example is more logical: first, you tell them where to
go, then you tell them what to do. However, the second example is more
conversational (resembles spoken English).

Please vote for No. 1 or No. 2. Please include a reason for your
preference. I REALLY would like to see if there is any consensus here.

ALSO: Consider this sentence:
* "Click in the Name text box and type your name."
I would never write this sentence:
* "In the Name text box, click and type your name."

It sounds totally wrong to begin with a preposition here--but not so
wrong in Sentence No. 1 above. Why?

Thanks everyone!

Keith

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