4 ms·
> This application will not be able to... ^-- should read "This application will NEVER..." It's easier to skim read and more finite imo
by chrisfarms 15y ago
> This application will not be able to...
^-- should read "This application will NEVER..."
It's easier to skim read and more finite imo
- ams6110 15y agoAgreed; in general you should avoid passive voice.
- hammock 15y agoActually both phrasings are in active voice- rather it's a difference of abstract vs concrete language.
- j_baker 15y agoI think that advice is a bit antiquated. There are plenty of times where the passive voice is ideal. One very common reason to use the passive voice is that the end of a sentence is the ideal place to put something you want emphasized: This house was robbed! Vs Someone robbed this house. See the difference?
- matthewowen 15y agoFYI: neither of those fragments used the passive voice.
- smacktoward 15y agoOr even better: "WE will never..." That way it doesn't sound like you're trying to weasel-word a (meaningless to the user) distinction between your company and your product.
- Raphael 15y agoSlightly different meanings. "Never" seems like a promise, whereas "not able" seems like a technical limitation. Although, I suppose the application could be altered to enable the malicious function, so I see why you prefer the promise.