0

I work on a technical manual where each separate rule is followed by an example. (Actually, each rule is followed by two examples, a correct one and a wrong one. The wrong ones are skipped for brevity.) Here is a small excerpt from it:

Attributes

Put attributes below rather than above captions.

.Caption
[columns="1, 2", grid="none"]

Put a space after a comma; do not put spaces around an equal sign.

[columns="1, 2", grid="none"]

It seems to me that "Put" in the beginning of the second sentence, due to the same word in the beginning of the first sentence, is somewhat ambiguous.

  • Do we mean "Do not forgot to put a space after a comma"? (yes we do). Or
  • do we mean "Put a space after rather than before a comma"? (no we don't).

How to solve this issue? Is it better to replace the second "Put" with "Do put"? Or maybe it is better to replace the first "Put" with "Place"? Or maybe there is some another way?

Improve this question
2
  • Any ambiguity comes from the fact that you do not say anywhere "Do not put a space before a comma" or any other form of words meaning the same thing. It doesn't matter whether you use 'put', 'place', 'insert' or any other word with a similar meaning that part of the instruction is still not made explicit so the same ambiguity exists.
    – BoldBen
    Nov 15, 2020 at 15:38
  • 2
    The word put is used the same way in both sentences. One says where to position attributes, and one says where to position a space. Put a space does not mean remember to do that, but that any comma that you use must have a space following it.
    – Yosef Baskin
    Nov 15, 2020 at 15:38

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

My suggestion

Place attributes below rather than above captions.

Insert a space after a comma; do not put spaces around an equal sign.

Improve this answer
1
  • chasly, thanks :) What is the reason to use both insert and put in the second sentence? Why not just put or just insert in both cases?
    – user90726
    Nov 16, 2020 at 9:39

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.