Re: "Allow" vs. "Require"
Now, back in the real world situation that I described, "allow" actually
works better than "enable":
Yes, it does.
* "The RCP shall allow but not require the user to schlep the pekele."
I liked it the first time I read it. I think the discussion continued after this perfect resolution because there was value in the discussion of the reasoning why this phrasing was more appropriate than other phrasing.
* "The RCP shall enable but not require the user to schlep the pekele."
Excellent illustration of how the words are not interchangeable. The use of "enable" raises questions about what is being enabled, whether it is the option to schlep or the pekele itself, and the ramifications of an enabled option not being schlepped or an unschlepped pekele, whichever is the case.
With the use of "allow," there is no question about the status of the pekele and the system designers can focus on giving users the option to schlep. In this case, "allow" narrows the focus to the user requirements without raising vagueness about what those requirements are. The qualifier, "but not require," further narrows the focus to a specific user requirement. It is a thing of beauty, as it were.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help. Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need.
Try Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
http://bit.ly/doc-to-help
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
References:
"Allow" vs. "Require": From: Dan Goldstein
RE: "Allow" vs. "Require": From: Dan Goldstein
RE: "Allow" vs. "Require": From: Porrello, Leonard
Re: "Allow" vs. "Require": From: Lauren
RE: "Allow" vs. "Require": From: Porrello, Leonard
RE: "Allow" vs. "Require": From: Dan Goldstein
Previous by Author:
Re: "Allow" vs. "Require"
Next by Author:
Re: "Allow" vs. "Require"
Previous by Thread:
Re: "Allow" vs. "Require"
Next by Thread:
Re: "Allow" vs. "Require"
Search our Technical Writing Archives & Magazine
Visit TechWhirl's Other Sites
Sponsored Ads