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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Guidelines on writing instructions
Hi,
I saw the following sentences as written to be instructional details and am wondering why articles are omitted in one and not in others. Are there any guidelines or is it that the instructions are written to instruct and as long as it achieves that purpose, no clear grammar rules exist? I got the sentences from the dltk.com website.
eg,
Instructions:
Print template and color as desired.
Close the template window after printing
I saw the following sentences as written to be instructional details and am wondering why articles are omitted in one and not in others. Are there any guidelines or is it that the instructions are written to instruct and as long as it achieves that purpose, no clear grammar rules exist? I got the sentences from the dltk.com website.
eg,
Instructions:
Print template and color as desired.
Close the template window after printing
Top answer
First: print, color, close are imperatives. You can't make them longer or shorter. But you know all that.
- First: print, color, close are imperatives.
- You can't make them longer or shorter.
- But you know all that.
- The 1st sentence is very "instruction style" and everything possible is cut down, including "the" re template.
- The 2nd is a bit more descriptive, thus "the" is left in.
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8 Answers
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First: print, color, close are imperatives. You can't make them longer or shorter. But you know all that.
The 1st sentence is very "instruction style" and everything possible is cut down, including "the" re template.
The 2nd is a bit more descriptive, thus "the" is left in.
The 1st sentence is very "instruction style" and everything possible is cut down, including "the" re template.
The 2nd is a bit more descriptive, thus "the" is left in.
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I agree with Marius, but would say it is bad style to use such a telegraphed form in the first step and then use the article in the second step.
I would also agree that grammar rules are loose when it comes to instructions or other things written in bullet or point form, but argue that there are style considerations, and there are published style guides as well as in-house g
I would also agree that grammar rules are loose when it comes to instructions or other things written in bullet or point form, but argue that there are style considerations, and there are published style guides as well as in-house g
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Hi,
Instructions:
Print template and color as desired.
Close template window after printing
Just a minor comment that I'd omit after printing from instructions that are meant to be followed sequentially.
Best wishes, Clive
Instructions:
Print template and color as desired.
Close template window after printing
Just a minor comment that I'd omit after printing from instructions that are meant to be followed sequentially.
Best wishes, Clive
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Thank you.
The second sentence should be like this:
Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
Sorry.
The second sentence should be like this:
Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
Sorry.
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Hi,
Would you say the sentences below follow the general style in vogue?
T uses classroom language.
T uses variety of tasks and functions.
T presents clear model of language.
Would you say the sentences below follow the general style in vogue?
T uses classroom language.
T uses variety of tasks and functions.
T presents clear model of language.
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Hi - Generally, you should start a new thread when you have a question, rather than just adding to one that already exists.
I'm not sure what "uses classroom language" is.
T performs a variety of tasks and functions
T presents a ... I'm not sure what a "clear model of language" means.
I'm not sure what "uses classroom language" is.
T performs a variety of tasks and functions
T presents a ... I'm not sure what a "clear model of language" means.
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Hi,
When writing instructions/notices like the ones in the previous posts, why did you choose to leave out the article in the first sentence and chose to put the articles on the second and third sentences?
1. Print (no article) template and color as desired.
2. T performs a variety of tasks and functions.
3. T presents a clear model ...
When writing instructions/notices like the ones in the previous posts, why did you choose to leave out the article in the first sentence and chose to put the articles on the second and third sentences?
1. Print (no article) template and color as desired.
2. T performs a variety of tasks and functions.
3. T presents a clear model ...
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Anon, you seem to have combined questions from two different questions as though they are one. The "print" was from the first set of questions, and the one about "T" are from the second. As far as I can tell, they bear no relationship to each other.
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