verbs · acceptable verbs for describing the activities of strange machines
Someone asked, in a reply, for a list. The committee convened. Below is
its ruling: which verbs you may use to describe what a strange machine
is doing, which require caution, and which are forbidden outright — no
matter how much it feels, from where you're sitting, like the machine
wanted something.
approved use freely
Verbs a machine may be said to do without raising a single eyebrow.
caution technically permitted
The committee reserves the right to revisit these. Use sparingly, and never twice in one sentence.
forbidden do not use
Regardless of how it feels to you. Especially then.