A question of grammar

Ravi Bhavnani

The exact context is this sentence ("XYZ" represents the product name):

You can decide which features get implemented first (and suggest new ones) by taking the brief XYZ Feature Survey. It only takes a minute and you can change your answers at any time.

I'm trying to make it easy for my users to prioritize existing feature requests (the majority of which have been submitted by them) and suggest new features. /ravi

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AspDotNetDev

Adding the "will" just emphasizes that the survey will take place in the future. Assuming the reader already knows this, it is unnecessary to add that information. Though, it does sound more natural. I think that is because "will" also denotes that something is actually going to happen rather than something that may happen. For example, one might also say "It would only take a minute." That has the same meaning, but also recognizes that the event may never take place. Since people (at least in my culture) tend to use subtle connotations to encourage others to do as they say, the "will" seems more natural (i.e., you'd expect somebody to imply that the event will take place). Basically, it seems more natural because it is of the level of assertiveness you'd expect from a friend.

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GlobX

Adopting a programmer's mindset, no sentence is complete without the word "should" :)

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Glenn Dawson

http://faculty.washington.edu/marynell/grammar/AdverbPl.html[^] Focusing adverbs: even, only, also, mainly, just after BE verb, after auxiliary verbs, before other verbs

_Damian S_

Ravi Bhavnani wrote:

You can decide which features get implemented first (and suggest new ones) by taking the brief XYZ Feature Survey. It only takes a minute and you can change your answers at any time.

That sounds fine... BTW, no thanks! ;P

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PIEBALDconsult

But they're different semantically.

Roger Wright

Style 2 is clearly the more proper way to make the statement. But I still think it will take longer.

Will Rogers never met me.

Abhinav S

Wait a minute! Er, um - yeah #1 sounds better.

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Sander Rossel

As some famous green guy with pointy ears would say "Take a minute, it will" :D

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Pete OHanlon

3. Henry is up to the challenge.

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Vikram A Punathambekar

Vintage Tim! :-D

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Henry Minute

#1 for spoken #2 for written.

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Slacker007

If you were not an accountant, would you have considered being an English Professor? You seem to have a genuine passion for it. Just an observation. ;)

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Nish Nishant

Ravi Bhavnani wrote:

Are you speaking from experience, my good man?

As a happily married guy, I'll just keep quiet on that! :)

Regards, Nish

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