"Appears" vs. "will appear"?

[Geoff Hart]

Keith Hansen wondered: <<I want to canvass your opinions here. Which  
do you prefer: No. 1: "Click the ABC button. The XYZ dialog box  
appears." No. 2: "Click the ABC button. The XYZ dialog box will  
appear.">>

I'll take door number 3, Monty: "Click ABC to display the XYZ dialog  
box." In some contexts, "1. Click ABC. 2. In the XYZ dialog box [do  
something]." Shorter, focuses on the task, and doesn't make any  
predictions about the future.


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-- Geoff Hart
ghart at videotron.ca / geoffhart at mac.com
www.geoff-hart.com
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Coming soon:  _Effective onscreen editing_ (http://www.geoff-hart.com/ 
home/onscreen-book.htm)