Usage tip o' the day

Paul W. Frields stickster at gmail.com
Tue Nov 25 14:02:26 UTC 2008


TIP OF THE DAY:

If you use the word "this" or "that," follow it with a noun that
clearly indicates the antecedent.  Ensure that your use of "this" or
"that" isn't also an indicator of poor sentence construction.  The
word "lets" or "allows" following "this" or "that" is generally a sign
that more editing is needed.

INCORRECT: "This shows the user who owns the process."
CORRECT:   "This option shows the user who owns the process."

INCORRECT:  "Turn on the 'updates-testing' repository in the Software
Sources tool.  This lets you test new packages before they are pushed
to the stable repository."
CORRECT:    "To test new packages before they are pushed to the stable
repository, turn on the 'updates-testing' repository in the Software
Sources tool."

Be on the lookout for naked "this" or "that"!

-- 
Paul W. Frields                                http://paul.frields.org/
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  irc.freenode.net: stickster @ #fedora-docs, #fedora-devel, #fredlug
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