Why not use the name of the software in the message instead of We. So, for example, if you are using a software called Ender Wiggens, state:
Wait while Ender Wiggens updates the database. This avoids unclear pronouns, passive voice, and has a clear antecedent. -Gillian -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Writer Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 6:52 AM To: Fred Ridder; Frame Users; Mike Wickham Subject: Re: Use of "please" in technical documentation and messages on screen Microsoft Word would chide you for using a sentence fragment. =D Nadine --- On Fri, 6/26/09, Mike Wickham <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Mike Wickham <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: Use of "please" in technical documentation and messages on screen > To: "Fred Ridder" <[email protected]>, "Frame Users" <[email protected]> > Received: Friday, June 26, 2009, 9:39 AM > Actually, the way I would write the > message avoids passive voice and omits > needless words. I would write, "Updating result list. > Please wait..." > > Mike Wickham > > ----- Original Message ----- > But in order to avoid the passive voice, the UI resorts to > the first person > plural, which is also discouraged in most technical writing > style guides. At > best, the pronoun is unclear because it does not have a > clear antecedent; at > worst, it is punning words in the mouth of the company, > which can > potentially have lkegal consequences (at least in a > litigious society like > the US). > > This is one of the occasions where the passive voice is > actually > appropriate, because it is inconsequential to the user who > or what is > performing the act. All that really matters to the user is > that the process > is occurring. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to Framers as [email protected]. > > Send list messages to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [email protected] > or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/generic668%40yahoo.c a > > Send administrative questions to [email protected]. > Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and > info. > > _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [email protected]. Send list messages to [email protected]. To unsubscribe send a blank email to [email protected] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/gflato%40nanometrics .com Send administrative questions to [email protected]. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [email protected]. Send list messages to [email protected]. To unsubscribe send a blank email to [email protected] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [email protected]. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
