grammar survey - recap

["Hutchings, Christa" <cwhutchings -at- HOMEWIRELESS -dot- COM>]

Thanks to all who responded to my grammar survey. The hands-down winner
was #1 (my favorite too!).

>1) When finished, press END. 11 votes
>2) When done, press END. 4 votes
>3) Press END when finished. 5 votes
>4) Press END when done. 1 vote

There were also 6 votes for various constructions of "complete", and
several who voted for both 1 and 2.

I received many interesting comments and other suggestions, such as
using "type" instead of "press," or "click" instead of "press". In
response, I will say that this is for a telephony product - the button
actually says END (not End, as someone questioned) and you do have to
"press" it (no mouse involved). I also don't like some of the longer
constructions that were suggested, such as "When you have completed the
task, press END". These procedures must go on a small quick-reference
card and real estate is an issue here, so the shorter, the better. I
also got several responses from (apparently) English professors who
admonished me for using truncated sentences, etc. Again, I have to fall
back on the real estate excuse - I just don't have room on my reference
card to use fully grammatically correct sentences. "When finished, press
END" is concise and to the point - it leaves no doubt as to what is to
be done, or when, or by whom, and it fits on my card!

Chris Welch-Hutchings
Sr. Technical Writer
Home Wireless Networks, Inc.
Norcross GA (USA)
cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com