active vs. passive voice

[Leonard C. Porrello]

I think this is where Geoff's construction would be better:

(A) "1. Click <New Entry> to open the New Entry window." 

I can also think of two other options:

(B) "1. Click <New Entry>. The New Entry window will appear."

Or 

(C) "1. To open the New Entry window, click <New Entry>."

It all depends on how you want to orient the reader. (A) is nice and
compact. (B) is very simple and provides a nice segue to a screen shot.
(C) lets the reader know what he is about to do before he does it. Of
course, (C) is probably more appropriate when the user is about to
execute a step that would be difficult to undo.

(Note, <New Entry> would be an image of the button.)

Leonard C. Porrello
SoleraTec LLC
www.soleratec.com
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard.porrello=soleratec.com at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard.porrello=soleratec.com at lists.techwr-l.c
om] On Behalf Of Bastette
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:17 AM
To: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: Re: active vs. passive voice

On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 11:24:24AM -0400, Suzette Leeming wrote:

 > My opinion...
 > 
 > "is displayed" is passive, but as others have stated, often
acceptable.
 > "displays" is unacceptable because it is a transitive verb.
 > "displays a list of blah blah blah" is acceptable.
 > "appears" is acceptable but not my favourite.
 > "opens" is preferred when referring to windows (as in "the report
criteria
 > window opens").

What about "This {displays/opens/brings up} the XYZ {window/dialog
box}",
where "this" is the action described in the previous (or same)
instruction.

Eg:

1. Click on the New Entry button. This opens the New Entry window
(dialog,
   etc).

2. ...

Any objections to that?

Joyce
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^