active vs. passive voice

[Paul Kretschmer]

"is displayed" is passive voice, but I think there are times when the
passive voice is perfectly OK.  

"XXX displays" is not standard English -- "display" is a transitive
verb; it requires an object.  "The screen displays XXX" is OK.  

We solved this problem by using "appears" -- it's active and
intransitive.  

My 2 cents.  

--
Paul Kretschmer | Technical Writer, Documentation
toll free 800.866.1124 x191 | local 805.699.2040 x191 | fax 805.699.2044
paul.kretschmer at yardi.com | www.yardi.com

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+paul.kretschmer=yardi.com at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+paul.kretschmer=yardi.com at lists.techwr-l.com]
On Behalf Of Michelle Vina-Baltsas
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:52 AM
To: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: active vs. passive voice

I've read many threads on this listserv related to the use of "appears" 
vs. "displays" or "is displayed". During a meeting yesterday, with my 
fellow tech writers, we had a heated discussion about whether we should 
use "is displayed" or "displays" when writing a result (For example, 
"Select the XYZ button. The EXY dialog box is displayed.") One writer 
insisted that the use of  "is displayed" should not be used because it
is 
in the passive voice. To be honest, my head was spinning so quickly that
I 
decided to refrain from offering my opinion. I did tell them I'd 
investigate though. 

Is the use of "is displayed" passive voice?

Thank you,
Michelle


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