Attributing human qualities or behavior to inanimate objects is called anthropomorphism. Many writers use anthropomorphism unintentionally, especially when the subject of the sentence is a computer system or a piece of hardware or software. In technical documentation, anthropomorphism can lead to ambiguity or result in inaccurate implications. It can also cause problems for translators and readers for whom English is not a native language.

To avoid anthropomorphism, show how a person uses the inanimate object to perform an action. Most unintentional errors with anthropomorphism occur with the following words:

• The verbs allow, let, permit, and prohibit.

• The nouns health and sanity.

Other verbs to avoid when the subject is an inanimate object include realize, suspect, and think.