| Author |
Message |
Matthew Jarsky, architect
Advanced Member
Username: jarsky
Post Number: 5
Registered: 05-2022
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 10:58 am: |    |
Hi,
I love using the imperative voice and am continually astonished by the persistence of the passive voice.
Here are few examples of passive voice I was looking at this morning.
1. EXISTING PLUMBING FIXTURE TO BE DEMOLISHED. EXISTING SUPPLIES TO REMAIN FOR CONNECTION TO NEW FIXTURES.
2. EXISTING SANITARY PIPING BEYOND ORIGINAL FOUNDATION TO BE DEMOLISHED. PROTECT EXISTING PIPING FROM DEBRIS DURING CONSTRUCTION.
3. EXISTING ROOF DRAIN TO BE DEMOLISHED. PIPING TO REMAIN FOR CONNECTION TO NEW ROOF DRAIN (TYP. FOR 6).
How would one reword the "TO REMAIN" notes to use the active voice? |
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski
Post Number: 2349
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 11:28 am: | |
"Leave"? |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, CDT, Certified Master Gardener
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 1009
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 11:40 am: | |
The choice I would make on first thinking about it is
“Retain in place…”
And that could be modified for conditions where the item needs to be removed, cleaned, repaired, or simply be moved out of the way for new work and then reinstalled, in which case some direction of “remove and store protected as required to remain undamaged for reinstallation…”. Maybe something about an inspection to verify that it works with the new item or modified conditions. Retaining the item where it needs to be temporarily removed, does not mean the modified work that required its removal is done completely. And that should also be addressed in the new work’s section(s) about requiring that it be coordinated with items to be existing items.
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, CDT, SCIP Emeritus |
RDCAIA (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 11:13 am: | |
Masterspec uses "Retain" as the imperative in their Division 01 Alteration Project Procedures (and also their Historic Treatment Procedures section). |
Matthew Jarsky, architect
Senior Member
Username: jarsky
Post Number: 6
Registered: 05-2022
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 06:02 pm: | |
“Retain in place” makes sense.
“Retain” on its own could be a little ambiguous, e.g., retain in place, retain and reinstall, retain in my rec room.
Thanks! |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, CDT, Certified Master Gardener
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 1010
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 07:41 pm: | |
Matthew, yes, always best to say what, where, when, how, etc. after any verb, otherwise, its whatever is ‘self evident’ to the contractor -grin!
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS, CDT, SCIP Emeritus |
Davemetzger (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 09:26 pm: | |
Not only is "Existing whatever to be demolished" passive voice, it's positively docile. It doesn't tell the contractor to demolish whatever, only that whatever is to be demolished. Such demolition could be performed by a third party.
So much clearer and simpler to state "Demolish whatever". Two words that clearly state what the contractor is to do, rather than using five words that dance around the issue. |
James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: jsandoz
Post Number: 388
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - 09:48 am: | |
Well stated, Dave Metzger. As my mentor once told me, "Don't write 'Door to be removed.' because it begs the question: Removed by whom? |
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