"is displayed" versus "appears"

Question

A common phrase in technical writing isthe such-and-such screen appearsthe such-and-such screen is displayedthe such-and-such screen displaysI prefer "appears," which the Microsoft Style Guide prefers as well, but a certain customer wants "is displayed."Other than simply personal preference, is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]A common phrase in technical writing is the such-and-such screen appears the such-and-such screen is displayed the such-and-such screen displays ... certain customer wants "is displayed." Other than simply personal preference, is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?[/nq]
There certainly is an economic argument. The guy who wants "is displayed" is paying the bills.
I would think the first question you should have is whether or not the version the customer wants provides clearly understandable information for the end-user. If it does, and the customer wants it this way, looking for a grammatical basis of argument seems counter-productive.

If I was the end-user, I would find any of the three versions to be completely understandable and non-ambigious.

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]A common phrase in technical writing is the such-and-such screen appears the such-and-such screen is displayed the such-and-such screen displays ... certain customer wants "is displayed." Other than simply personal preference, is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?[/nq]
You list them in decreasing order of my preference, but they're all understandable, and at least the first two are everyday usages.

I'm not sure I'd want to be guided by the Microsoft Style Guide, however.
athel

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]A common phrase in technical writing is the such-and-such screen ... is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?[/nq]
[nq:1]There certainly is an economic argument. The guy who wants "is displayed" is paying the bills. I would think the ... counter-productive. If I was the end-user, I would find any of the three versions to be completely understandable and non-ambigious.[/nq]
I too would prefer the first. It's something which 'happens' before your eyes. First there is no such-and-such screen, then there is. An alternative would be to use "will appear" (and maintain this style throughout).
The second is OK, but, being pedantic, there's nothing which indicates that the such-and-such screen hasn't been displayed from an earlier time. However, if all of the instructions are written in this style, there will not be any confusion.
(I feel that "is" isn't really the correct verb. The correct one is "become". Other languages distinguish between the two (certainly Dutch, and probably German). "Will be" might be better, but that could be taken as something which won't happen 'now', but will at some later time.)

The third, although the style is now in common use, simply isn't correct grammar. "To display" requires an object. A few days ago, we had a lot of this form of journalistic English when, invariably, the Discovery shuttle "was due to launch" and then "had launched". It's yet another indication that the UK 'media' are becoming increasingly illiterate.
Ian

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]There certainly is an economic argument. The guy who wants "is displayed" is paying the bills.[/nq]
All true, but the customer is open to hearing my argument.

Usenet · Answer

Athel Cornish-Bowden filted:
[nq:2]A common phrase in technical writing is the such-and-such screen ... is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?[/nq]
[nq:1]You list them in decreasing order of my preference, but they're all understandable, and at least the first two are everyday usages. I'm not sure I'd want to be guided by the Microsoft Style Guide, however.[/nq]
In this case, the Microsoft Style Guide is on the side of the angels, giving preference to active over passive construction..r

"Oy! A cat made of lead cannot fly."
- Mark Brader declaims a basic scientific principle

Usenet · Answer

Tim Murray:
[nq:1]A common phrase in technical writing is the such-and-such screen appears the such-and-such screen is displayed the such-and-such screen displays ... certain customer wants "is displayed." Other than simply personal preference, is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?[/nq]
No.
The third one uses "display" intransitively and some people may object to that, but there's nothing wrong with either of the first two; it's purely a matter of style.

Mark Brader, Toronto > "When you're up to your *** in alligators, maybe (Email Removed) > you're in the wrong swamp." Bill Stewart

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]A common phrase in technical writing is the such-and-such screen appears the such-and-such screen is displayed the such-and-such screen displays ... certain customer wants "is displayed." Other than simply personal preference, is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?[/nq]
Not grammar, but style: the first and third are in the active voice, the other in the passive; and active voice is almost always a better choice, especially in instructional material. As between "appears" and "displays", "appears" is probably preferable, as "display" as a verb is still a new usage.
I am also speaking as a former technical writer not enamored of the present tense: "the such-and-such screen will then appear" (as opposed to "appears").

Cordially,
Eric Walker, Owlcroft House
http://owlcroft.com/english/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]In this case, the Microsoft Style Guide is on the side of the angels, giving preference to active over passive construction....r[/nq]
Ah, but it's a foolish consistency. The construction may be active, but it doesn't give us any better idea of the agency of the action. Do you think that screen appears all by itself? I'll take a passive construction suggesting a hidden agent over "then a miracle occurs" anyday.

¬R

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]A common phrase in technical writing is the such-and-such screen appears the such-and-such screen is displayed the such-and-such screen displays ... certain customer wants "is displayed." Other than simply personal preference, is there a grammatical argument supporting one of these styles?[/nq]
The screen "appears" if you are talking about the screen itself; or it "shows" or "displays" if you are talking about what the screen shows.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]. . . as "display" as a verb is still a new usage. . . .[/nq]
I meant as an intransitive verb.

Cordially,
Eric Walker, Owlcroft House
http://owlcroft.com/english/

"is displayed" versus "appears"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions