“How It Works” vs. “How Do I Use It?”
Often on the Internet, when various entities want to introduce a new concept they are selling, there is a demonstration called “How It Works.” Many curious people that are interested in these products would like to know how these things work simply because it’s a potentially impressive creation or they’d like to replicate that concept with their own abilities.
What one will typically find when looking through a “how it works” document is instructions pertaining to where the consumer (purchaser) fits in to the use of the provided solution and contains nothing about the inner workings of the product.
For any producers of these false documents, I’d have to offer this grammatically-inspired rebuke. “How it works” is not the answer for “How can I get your thing to work?” or “How do I use it?” It’s the answer to “How does this work?”
While I fully respect and don’t oppose the right of entities to keep these kinds of secrets, I don’t see why they have to choose these words and mislead potential customers and innocent readers as to how much information on their product they’re willing to disclose.
To me, falsely promising information using completely incomprehensible grammar is an impious act. If only Euthyphro wasn’t so busy…