NEWS.22: `allows' without an object

["Ken Manheimer" <ken.manheimer@gmail.com>]

On 5/28/07, Robert J. Chassell <bob@rattlesnake.com> wrote:

> In English, as heard by a native,
>
>     *** New user option `help-at-pt-display-when-idle' allows to
>
> in emacs/etc/NEWS.22 sounds wrong.  It would sound better if it were
>
>     *** New user option `help-at-pt-display-when-idle' allows you to
>                                                               ^^^

well, heck, why not use "enables" instead of "allows"?

"to allow" is to not refuse something, to permit it.  "to enable" is
to activate or provide the means to do something.  seems like 80% of
the time that i see "allows" in instructions, "enables" is what was meant.
(the other 20% of the time, the instructions are properly using the
word to endorse valid inputs, or something like that...)

> looked at the outline, but even that was large, over 5000 lines.  You
> may substitute `GNU Emacs' for `you'.)

"may substitute" - again, permission when something else is meant, in
this case, propriety - "you might substitute `GNU Emacs'..."

i don't mean to claim particular grammar chops, this is just a peeve of mine.
--
ken
http://myriadicity.net