Gerunds and participles can create ambiguity because they are easily confused with one another. Simplify your content by replacing gerunds and participles with simple verbs, nouns, or infinitives if you can do so without changing the meaning of the sentence.
The word using can result in ambiguity, especially in procedures. Use this word judiciously.
Suggestions for replacing verbals
The following table shows how to replace a verbal with a simple verb:
Preferred
Discouraged
Use the LAN Security screen to verify that the SNMP service is enabled.
Verify that the SNMP service is enabled using the LAN Security screen.
Use the new administrative values to restart the web service.
Restart the web service using the new administrative values.
Edit the configuration file to change administration field values.
Administration field values can be changed by editing the configuration file.
The following table shows how to replace a verbal with a noun:
Preferred
Discouraged
Higher code rates provide better quality recordings.
Higher code rates provide better quality recording.
Frame numbers always start at 0.
Frame numbering always starts at 0.
The following table shows how to replace a verbal with an infinitive:
