Q

[yog]

Hi,

Is it correct to write the following?
1. By clicking on the arrow next to the text, you would get a list...
2. Right click over the item line (Right click - I refer to the click in the mouse)
3. "Find in abc" is for searching items in the database, while "Find in xyz" is for searching for an item in the active worksheet.

Thanks,
Yog

[OddThomas]

It looks like you are writing procedures. Good procedures are difficult to write well. I will try to help.

First, make sure that you read many procedures written by other people. This way you can see what is good and what is bad. These don't have to be English language procedures. Good procedures and bad procedures occur in every language.

Next, as often as possible, use imperative mood. This is the type of sentence form used to give commands: Do that. In instructions and procedures it is not rude, and it prevents mistakes. If you make suggestions or give advice instead of giving instructions, then people may not follow your procedures correctly.

Third, make sure you understand how people use their mouse. They click and double click on things, not over things. I think people hover over things. Hover means to roll the cursor without clicking so that is rests on something.

In summary,

I suggest that you say, Click on the arrow next to the text to get a list...

In your procedures, you want to say right click on the item line. (not over)

Rather than say is searching for, say searches for. This makes the sentence more dynamic, and your reader will feel that action will take place.

Here is the result--1. Click on the arrow next to the text to get a list...
2. Right click on the item line
3. "Find in abc" searches for items in the database, while "Find in xyz" searches for an item in the active worksheet.