Is there a word that means both opening and closing a door?

Question

As in,

Please do not __ this door after midnight.

Operate? Move?

I suspect that the message is because of noise. Why not address that directly? — tenfour, Mar 07 '12 at 15:36
So if the door is closed, you don't want anyone to open it? And if the door is open, you don't want anyone to close it? That seems an odd instruction, but without more context it's hard to say. — Jay, Mar 07 '12 at 16:46
I agree with @tenfour - putting a reason on a sign might make people more likely to obey the sign. I can't find it now, but I recall a study where people asked for simple favors, and got better responses when they included a reason - even if the reason was silly. "Excuse me, could I use the copier before you, because I need to make some copies." Uh, sure... — John C, Mar 07 '12 at 21:14
@JohnC: Indeed. A Google search for "placebic" copier finds lots of information. (Placebic being placebo + -ic; the idea being that such a "reason" is structured like a reason, and sounds like a reason, but doesn't actually add any information that's not already obvious from the request, so it functions like a placebo.) — ruakh, Mar 07 '12 at 22:14

score 34 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 07 '12 at 17:13

34

Why would you not just say "open or close"? It's unambiguous, short, and simple. I don't understand why you think you need a single word.

Please do not open or close this door after midnight.

answered Mar 07 '12 at 17:13

Mark Beadles

22,642

3

anything other than "open or close" would leave me scratching my head as to why they didn't say that. – nohat Mar 07 '12 at 17:55
2

@nohat: "Please do not use this door after midnight" would leave you scratching your head? – Robusto Mar 07 '12 at 19:21
3

@Robusto We can't tell if that's what the OP meant. "Use" can also mean walk through which might be allowed. – Mark Beadles Mar 07 '12 at 19:34
2

Well, this isn't augury or holy scripture. Far too much attention has been devoted to this question already, and now we're supposed to treat this as some kind of sacred text? – Robusto Mar 07 '12 at 19:37
3

@Robusto If the door was already open, "Please do not use..." would mean, please do not walk through it. It's basically asking for someone else be helpful and close it. – Izkata Mar 07 '12 at 20:21
1

@Robusto, yes, to me, using a door would mean to pass through it. Opening and closing a door are separate actions from using a door, in my mind. – nohat Mar 07 '12 at 20:24
@Izkata: No it's not. – Robusto Mar 07 '12 at 20:25
In my mind, the problem with this statement is that the reader is left wondering what state the door ought to be in if it can't be closed or opened. I know that sounds ridiculous, but really I think "Do not touch this door* is the perfect conveyance of the OP's intent. – temporary_user_name Mar 25 '12 at 20:20

score 29 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 07 '12 at 14:06

29

I like operate or just use.

answered Mar 07 '12 at 14:06

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

18,150
2
58
74

I'd say "operate" is best; "use" could also mean walking through the door. – tenfour Mar 07 '12 at 14:16
16

@tenfour: "Use" is what most people would say if they didn't overthink it. The normal use case (!) for door opening and closing involves going through it, especially when someone considers forbidding such an action. – Robusto Mar 07 '12 at 15:24
10

If I read a sign that says "do not use this door after midnight", I would think I should not go through it. – tenfour Mar 07 '12 at 15:38
7

If you're not supposed to open or close it, I can't image you would be going through it. I definitely agree that "use" seems to be the best choice. – heathenJesus Mar 07 '12 at 15:54
5

Depending on just what the OP had in mind. He says he wants "do not open or close". So if the door was left open, someone shouldn't close it? If that's what he means, then "use" could be misleading. If I saw a sign saying "Do not use this door after midnight" and it was sitting open, I might think they want me to close it so no one can "use" it. – Jay Mar 07 '12 at 16:44
3

If the door is already open, then it would all right to walk through it. So "use" isn't right. – Mark Beadles Mar 07 '12 at 17:19
2

There is a big difference here between operate and use. Few people would think passing through a door is operating it, so I have no particular quarrel with that answer. But many people would consider passing through as one of the actions included in using a door. If OP means that passing (silently) through an already open door is fine, then "do not use" would absolutely be the wrong thing to say. – John Y Mar 07 '12 at 23:48
use works for me! – Michael Durrant Mar 08 '12 at 17:13

score 15 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 07 '12 at 17:02

15

As an alternative to the other answers:

Please do not touch this door after midnight.

answered Mar 07 '12 at 17:02

Mehper C. Palavuzlar

35,654

I think this takes it beyond what the OP is looking for. It would probably work in a small environment with a limited population. But if you have an unfamiliar population interacting regularly then the warning could be misconstrued, especially if the door is a large door with a remote opener. – Chad Mar 07 '12 at 17:30
@Chad: Actually, we are not sure what the OP is looking for. (As of this writing, he has not responded to several comments suggesting that clarification would be helpful.) But point taken that, depending on the door, you could open or close it without touching it. I still think this is a much better single-word answer than use, if we are to take the OP's question at face value. – John Y Mar 08 '12 at 00:10

score 7 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 07 '12 at 18:59

7

Swinging after midnight not allowed?

answered Mar 07 '12 at 18:59

Charlie

87

1

Apparently you don't know the definition of swinging. – zzzzBov Mar 07 '12 at 19:07
13

@zzzzBov: I suspect he knew the meaning. Charlie, thanks for the chuckle. – J.R. Mar 07 '12 at 19:16

score 4 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 07 '12 at 19:14

4

This door must not be used after midnight.

Or,

This door is not to be used after midnight.

edited Mar 07 '12 at 19:14

RegDwigнt

97,231

answered Mar 07 '12 at 19:03

Peddler

325

See http://english.stackexchange.com/a/60373/2303 – Robusto Mar 07 '12 at 19:37

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 07 '12 at 21:51

Since we seem to be implying there is a detriment to operating/using/toggling the door why not specifically ask the person not to incur the detriment: "Please don't creak the door after midnight!!" Just enumerate the negative effect as the action to avoid.

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 08 '12 at 14:37

2

I'd say swing in that case

answered Mar 08 '12 at 14:37

Ilya Saunkin

687

score 1 · Answer 8 · edited Mar 13 '12 at 16:34

1

What about displace, manipulate, interact with or tamper with?

edited Mar 13 '12 at 16:34

aedia λ

10,721

answered Mar 10 '12 at 01:13

Mike G

314

Is there a word that means both opening and closing a door?

8 Answers8

Linked