As in,
Please do not __ this door after midnight.
Operate? Move?
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3I suspect that the message is because of noise. Why not address that directly?– tenfourMar 7, 2012 at 15:36
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1So if the door is closed, you don't want anyone to open it? And if the door is open, you don't want anyone to close it? That seems an odd instruction, but without more context it's hard to say.– JayMar 7, 2012 at 16:46
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23"Don't $#^& with this door after midnight"– Ben BrockaMar 7, 2012 at 19:16
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2I agree with @tenfour - putting a reason on a sign might make people more likely to obey the sign. I can't find it now, but I recall a study where people asked for simple favors, and got better responses when they included a reason - even if the reason was silly. "Excuse me, could I use the copier before you, because I need to make some copies." Uh, sure...– John CMar 7, 2012 at 21:14
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3Perhaps WD40 is better than a dictionary in this case?– user9682Mar 8, 2012 at 0:37
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8 Answers
Why would you not just say "open or close"? It's unambiguous, short, and simple. I don't understand why you think you need a single word.
Please do not open or close this door after midnight.
answered Mar 7, 2012 at 17:13
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3anything other than "open or close" would leave me scratching my head as to why they didn't say that.– nohat ♦Mar 7, 2012 at 17:55
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2@nohat: "Please do not use this door after midnight" would leave you scratching your head?– RobustoMar 7, 2012 at 19:21
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3@Robusto We can't tell if that's what the OP meant. "Use" can also mean walk through which might be allowed. Mar 7, 2012 at 19:34
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2Well, this isn't augury or holy scripture. Far too much attention has been devoted to this question already, and now we're supposed to treat this as some kind of sacred text?– RobustoMar 7, 2012 at 19:37
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3@Robusto If the door was already open, "Please do not use..." would mean, please do not walk through it. It's basically asking for someone else be helpful and close it.– IzkataMar 7, 2012 at 20:21
I like operate or just use.
answered Mar 7, 2012 at 14:06
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16@tenfour: "Use" is what most people would say if they didn't overthink it. The normal use case (!) for door opening and closing involves going through it, especially when someone considers forbidding such an action.– RobustoMar 7, 2012 at 15:24
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10If I read a sign that says "do not use this door after midnight", I would think I should not go through it.– tenfourMar 7, 2012 at 15:38
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7If you're not supposed to open or close it, I can't image you would be going through it. I definitely agree that "use" seems to be the best choice. Mar 7, 2012 at 15:54
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5Depending on just what the OP had in mind. He says he wants "do not open or close". So if the door was left open, someone shouldn't close it? If that's what he means, then "use" could be misleading. If I saw a sign saying "Do not use this door after midnight" and it was sitting open, I might think they want me to close it so no one can "use" it.– JayMar 7, 2012 at 16:44
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3If the door is already open, then it would all right to walk through it. So "use" isn't right. Mar 7, 2012 at 17:19
As an alternative to the other answers:
Please do not touch this door after midnight.
answered Mar 7, 2012 at 17:02
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I think this takes it beyond what the OP is looking for. It would probably work in a small environment with a limited population. But if you have an unfamiliar population interacting regularly then the warning could be misconstrued, especially if the door is a large door with a remote opener.– ChadMar 7, 2012 at 17:30
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@Chad: Actually, we are not sure what the OP is looking for. (As of this writing, he has not responded to several comments suggesting that clarification would be helpful.) But point taken that, depending on the door, you could open or close it without touching it. I still think this is a much better single-word answer than use, if we are to take the OP's question at face value.– John YMar 8, 2012 at 0:10
Swinging after midnight not allowed?
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13@zzzzBov: I suspect he knew the meaning. Charlie, thanks for the chuckle.– J.R.Mar 7, 2012 at 19:16
This door must not be used after midnight.
Or,
This door is not to be used after midnight.
Since we seem to be implying there is a detriment to operating/using/toggling the door why not specifically ask the person not to incur the detriment: "Please don't creak the door after midnight!!" Just enumerate the negative effect as the action to avoid.
I'd say swing in that case
answered Mar 8, 2012 at 14:37
What about displace, manipulate, interact with or tamper with?
