| Platform SDK: Debugging and Error Handling |
Users almost always prefer simple sentences that use simple present or past tense and active voice. The following table shows some examples.
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| Registry Editor cannot create the subkey. | Could not create the subkey. |
| Setup cannot start Program Manager. | Setup was unable to activate Program Manager. |
| Floppy disk sector ID field does not match floppy disk controller track address. | Mismatch between the floppy disk sector ID field and the floppy disk controller track address. |
| CHKDSK encountered an error during... | An error was encountered during... |
| Cannot find %1. | Could not find %1. |
| Modem does not respond. | Modem not responding. |
However, using active voice and simple constructions is less important than making your message searchable. Use passive voice and more complex constructions if necessary to place search-relevant words at the beginning of the message. The following table shows some examples.
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| Log file size cannot be adjusted. | Cannot adjust the size of the log file.
Or Was unable to adjust the size of the log file. |
| Printing of %1 cannot resume. | Cannot resume printing %1.
Or Could not resume printing %1. |