“The cases display below the search criteria.”

Common English Blunders, Verbs

I saw this in a training manual.

Problem:
“Display” and “Appear” are not interchangeable.

Explanation:
Use “display” when something is displaying something else.

“Display” Examples:
Incorrect: “The faces display on the screen.”
Correct: “The faces display anger on the screen.”

Use “appear” when something is not displaying something else.

“Appear” Examples:
Incorrect: “The faces appear anger on the screen.”
Correct: “The faces appear on the screen.”

Solution:
“The cases appear below the search criteria.”