: Re: Instruction manuals: should the end-user be addressed directly (passive vs imperative)? Manuals come with virtually any appliance, and they typically target the end-user. Among other things (legal

Use direct, simple, clear, imperative instructions.

Passive voice and subjunctive make your language unclear and complicated for an international audience. Luckily in this respect there is no argument among the various schools of thought. For details, peruse the following style guides. Both make very instructive reading.

The IBM Style Guide is my reference of choice, when in doubt:
IBM Style Guide

Microsoft's own version is a little more controversial but some companies insist on it:
Microsoft Manual of Style

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: When we start a book from the climax (from the middle of the chapter), what is it called? Let's say that we have a plot that goes from A-Z and M is the middle (climax) part of it. There

: Re: Instruction manuals: should the end-user be addressed directly (passive vs imperative)? Manuals come with virtually any appliance, and they typically target the end-user. Among other things (legal

More posts by @Cody1607638

: If magazine submission guidelines say nothing, are they expecting Standard Manuscript Format? A lot of current science-fiction and fantasy magazines have online submission systems, accepting Word

: Advertisements for The Economist: what do they mean? I recently bought a book called 'The Advertising Concept Book' to help me improve in the areas of advertising and idea generation. Throughout

: What is the correct way to print song lyrics on a gravestone? I need to know the correct way to quote a song lyric on a stone that is to be placed in a memorial garden. The first part

: When we start a book from the climax (from the middle of the chapter), what is it called? Let's say that we have a plot that goes from A-Z and M is the middle (climax) part of it. There

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