Numbers

[Lynette Petendree <Lynette_Petendree -at- INSTINET -dot- COM>]

>Which setence is correct?
>After you press the "Ok" button, page 2 displays.
>or
>After you press the "Ok" button, page two displays.
>I'd write:
>When you press the OK button, page 2 will be displayed, as shown in Figure
>23-45 on page 23-400.
>John Posada, Technical Writer
>Bellcore, where Customer Satisfaction is our number one priority
>mailto:john -at- tdandw -dot- com   mailto:jposada -at- notes -dot- cc -dot- bellcore -dot- com
>phone(w) 732-699-3077    phone(h) 732-2910-7811
I agree, but would keep the figure (23-45) close to the reference so users
don't have to flip too far to find your example.  Also, I don't think you
mean "page 2." I think you mean a second page or screen or window or
whatever that is displayed next in the sequence, as Elna Tymes illustrates
below.

>Neither.  "displays" is a transitive verb and requires an object.
Instead, use
>the word "appears."  If you're referring to something that is labelled
"page 2"
>use the term that the user will see.  If you're referring to a second page
that
>doesn't have a label, and in particular if you're referring to a
subsequent
>screen of information, call it "the second screen" or something
equivalent.
>Elna Tymes
>Los Trancos Systems

Here, I disagree.  Displays is the wrong term, and appears is wrong for the
same reason.  This isn't a magic show, pages (screens, whatever) do not
magically appear or display.  I would say:

"When you press OK (I think they know it's a button), the "Blah Blah screen
is displayed, as shown in figure 23-45 below."

JMHO!!

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