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Subject:Re: on vs in From:Brad Barnes <kiwi -at- BEST -dot- COM> Date:Sun, 7 Jul 1996 21:49:56 -0700
Stewart:
I don't have an elaborate explanation, but I prefer from.
If I were to omit the if clause, I would say:
From the Advance menu panel, click Learner Questions.
I wouldn't use on or in.
Thus, if we were to insert the if clause, the preposition shouldn't
logically change:
If the Online Tutor screen is not already displayed, click Learner Questions
from the Advance menu panel.
Brad Barnes
Technical Writer
At 01:54 PM 7/8/96 +1000, you wrote:
>Hi all
>Please help me settle a friendly disagreement with my editor!
>If you're telling a user to select an option from a menu, should you use
>"on" or "in"? Which of the following do you prefer, and why:
>If the Online Tutor screen is not already displayed, click Learner Questions
>on the Advance menu panel.
>If the Online Tutor screen is not already displayed, click Learner Questions
>in the Advance menu panel.
>By the way, our app's menu is a panel of buttons down the left side of the
>window, rather than the usual Windows-style pull-down menu.
>Thanks
>Stewart
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>"Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot." -- Anon
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>Stewart Walker
>User Assistance Specialist
>Computer Power Education, ITS R&D Project
>L4, 493 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 3004
>Australia
>Ph: +61 3 9243 2343
>Fax: +61 3 9820 2010
>E-mail: stewart -dot- walker -at- cpe -dot- com -dot- au
>Web: http://www.cpe.com.au
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To send a message about technical communication to 2500+ list readers,
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