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Dawnie Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Predicate adjective question
In the following sentence is the word logged functioning as the predicate adjective/ subject compliment or is it a verb phrase, or could it be both?
Once the user passes authentication and the first part of authorization, the user is logged in to the client.
This second sentence is how my editor changed it to be "active" in her opinion.
Once the user passes authentication and the first part of authorization, the user logs in to the client.
My technical editor says "They actually mean the same thing, though one is passive and one is active. There is no difference grammatically, except that we cannot write in a passive voice in technical documentation. The only way you could interpret it differently is if something else is logging the user in -- if so, you need another noun to correct this."
My point is that the user is doing any action here and that's why I wrote it the way I did, using a linking verb and then logged to describe the state of the user after passing through the authentication process.
Once the user passes authentication and the first part of authorization, the user is logged in to the client.
This second sentence is how my editor changed it to be "active" in her opinion.
Once the user passes authentication and the first part of authorization, the user logs in to the client.
My technical editor says "They actually mean the same thing, though one is passive and one is active. There is no difference grammatically, except that we cannot write in a passive voice in technical documentation. The only way you could interpret it differently is if something else is logging the user in -- if so, you need another noun to correct this."
My point is that the user is doing any action here and that's why I wrote it the way I did, using a linking verb and then logged to describe the state of the user after passing through the authentication process.
Top answer
'My point is that the user is doing any action here ' Did you mean to write ' not doing'? In which case, the passive voice is appropriate semantically. But if the rule is 'Never use passive voice in a technical document', another word or phrase is necessary, perhaps forcing a construction less fluid sounding.
- 'My point is that the user is doing any action here ' Did you mean to write ' not doing'?
- In which case, the passive voice is appropriate semantically.
- But if the rule is 'Never use passive voice in a technical document', another word or phrase is necessary, perhaps forcing a construction less fluid sounding.
- (But, hey.
- ' Sorry not to have an answer to the part of your question about grammatical categories.
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22 Answers
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'My point is that the user is doing any action here '
Did you mean to write 'not doing'? In which case, the passive voice is appropriate semantically. But if the rule is 'Never use passive voice in a technical document', another word or phrase is necessary, perhaps forcing a construction less fluid sounding. (But, hey. when has that ever been a prior
Did you mean to write 'not doing'? In which case, the passive voice is appropriate semantically. But if the rule is 'Never use passive voice in a technical document', another word or phrase is necessary, perhaps forcing a construction less fluid sounding. (But, hey. when has that ever been a prior
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Thank you for your reply!
Yes, I meant to say that the user is not doing any action here. They have already started the login process and now the server is authenticating them. Once the server authenticates the user, the user is logged in. Or, you could say the login process is completed. The way my editor changed it, it now reads to me that the user is logging in after the authentication
Yes, I meant to say that the user is not doing any action here. They have already started the login process and now the server is authenticating them. Once the server authenticates the user, the user is logged in. Or, you could say the login process is completed. The way my editor changed it, it now reads to me that the user is logging in after the authentication
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Thank you for your reply!
Yes, I meant to say that the user is not doing any action here. They have already started the login process and now the server is authenticating them. Once the server authenticates the user, the user is logged in. Or, you could say the login process is completed. The way my editor changed it, it now reads to me that the user is logging in after the authentication
Yes, I meant to say that the user is not doing any action here. They have already started the login process and now the server is authenticating them. Once the server authenticates the user, the user is logged in. Or, you could say the login process is completed. The way my editor changed it, it now reads to me that the user is logging in after the authentication
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DawnieI read it the same way, and it's more misleading than breaking the rule about passive voice. Can you say, 'Once the server authenticates the user, the server logs in the user to the cli
The way my editor changed it, it now reads to me that the user is logging in after the authentication is done, which is impossible.
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I will think about that; something close to that might work. The editor thinks the two sentences mean the same thing because she thinks that "is logged" is the verb and is just changing it to logs in still says the same thing. However, the verb is just is with logged being a predicate adjective that describes the state of the user (logged in) so these two sentences definitely say something differe
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I should say that my credentials are 'native speaker', not 'professional grammarian'. I hope this thread will soon attract those who can confirm your position. Then it might carry some weight with your editor.
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This is not simply a matter of changing a sentence from passive to active voice; the actual meaning of the sentence was changed by your editor.
In the first sentence, I am led to believe that the user is automatically logged in once he or she passes authentication and the first part of authorization. In the second sentence, I am led to believe that the user has an active role in l
In the first sentence, I am led to believe that the user is automatically logged in once he or she passes authentication and the first part of authorization. In the second sentence, I am led to believe that the user has an active role in l
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Thank you, Chunes,
'Passive voice is the most suitable choice for certain situations in technical writing.'
(One might wish to add, in any kind of writing.)
This really needs to be said, even if it cannot be backed by authoritative sources. It just makes intrinsic sense, doesn't it?
It is just this kind of militancy about absolut
'Passive voice is the most suitable choice for certain situations in technical writing.'
(One might wish to add, in any kind of writing.)
This really needs to be said, even if it cannot be backed by authoritative sources. It just makes intrinsic sense, doesn't it?
It is just this kind of militancy about absolut
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Thank you everyone for your posts! I am so relieved to have found a place where there are others so understand these issues. I have learned to accept edits from technical editors that I don't always agree with because no one wants to have a discussion about every little word choice and writers all have their own style. Gosh, who has the time to trifle over every minor edit when you wouldn't write
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Ironical how many typos and bad phrasing I made in my last post, though, haha. This is what happens when I am being informal!
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