RE: Grammar Q

Subject: RE: Grammar Q
From: "Andrew Warren" <awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com>
To: "J Wermont" <jwermont -at- sonic -dot- net>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:14:06 -0800

J Wermont wrote:

> I might say the following:
>
> "Press down on the clutch with your left foot. The gears will
disengage
> and you'll be able to shift into the next higher gear. If you don't
> press all the way down on the clutch, though, the gears will grind."
>
> I would not say:
>
> "Press down on the clutch with your left foot. The gears disengage and
> you're able to shift into the next higher gear. If you don't press all
> the way down on the clutch, though, the gears grind."

Sure, Joyce, but that second example isn't your only option. I think
this avoids "will" without sacrificing naturalness:

"To shift without grinding the gears, fully depress the clutch pedal
before shifting."

If you like more words, or you want to mix part descriptions with
instructions and warnings, or your style is to place the description of
the action in front of the desired result, this does it, too:

"Press the clutch pedal with your left foot; this disengages the clutch
so you can shift. Make sure you press all the way down to prevent
grinding of the gears."

-Andrew

=== Andrew Warren - awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com
=== Synaptics, Inc - Santa Clara, CA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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