Word usage for "display"

Question

(Foreword: I could not get my new account working right initially — maybe because I linked here from Hotmail. In frustration I posted something similar *** a bit earlier. Apologies. I cannot find it. )

The following seems correct to me, "The picture displays beautifully on the computer screen." However, I cannot verify that the above usage of the word "display" is correct. Any insights?

I write software docs and frequently need to reference items on the screen. I want to avoid passive constructions such as, "The picture is displayed beautifully on the computer screen."

Regards,

Joel

Reetmon · Accepted Answer

The computer screen shows the picture beautifully

Maj · Answer

Which one? They are all  horrible.

ALT · Answer

Joel, I can't see anything wrong with what you have written.
Maybe that's because I also work in the IT industry and often see 'display' used this way?

Joel · Answer

Thanks, reetmon. Your word order is preferable (though I think "display" is equally valid in your sentence instead of "show").

I guess my example didn't fit my needs exactly. I just cooked it up to show the sense in which I need to sometimes want to use "display." The actual sentence that prompted me to write follows:

" The Test Code and Unit Serial Number display on one line to simplify parsing..."

I could say that "The monitor displays the Test Code and Unit Serial Number ..., " but I want to be as concise as reasonably possible.

--- Joel

Joel · Answer

Thanks for the encouragement, Andrew.

Maybe my/our usage is specialized. Remains to be seen whether dictionaries will pick up that usage in the future.

Regards,

Joel

Word usage for "display"

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