[dansays]

During my weekly review, I make it a point to scan my next action list for verb specificity. I have a tendency to be too vague, and use project verbs like "finalize" and "implement." When I see these words, it's a red flag that tells me I haven't yet broken a project down into actionable tasks.

I just posted an Applescript to the OmniFocus Extras forum that checks tasks against a master list of appropriate next-action verbs. Apologies for the cross-post, but I'm interested to hear whether this idea has enough merit to be formalized as a feature within OmniFocus.

Thoughts?

[curt.clifton]

Cool idea. I wonder why you chose to search for specific verbs rather than searching for vague verbs. Could you say some more about that?

[dansays]

I guess I prefer to assume an action is vague until proven specific, but the reverse approach would be just as valid, and just as easily scripted.

[curt.clifton]

Originally Posted by dansays

I guess I prefer to assume an action is vague until proven specific, but the reverse approach would be just as valid, and just as easily scripted.

My thought was that it would be easier for me to identify verbs that caused trouble and then add them to the list. Upon further reflection though, your current set up would force me to update the list with the verbs that I find specific. So that would rapidly converge to a solid list.

If this was built in there would have to be an easy was to select the verb in an action and say "Hey, this one is specific to me".

I wouldn't be heartbroken if verb specificity checks weren't built into 1.0, especially since you've shown that it can be scripted.