<t>There are several ways:<br/>
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Write-Host: Write directly to the console, not included in function/cmdlet output. Allows foreground and background colour to be set.<br/>
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Write-Debug: Write directly to the console, if $DebugPreference set to Continue or Stop.<br/>
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Write-Verbose: Write directly to the console, if $VerbosePreference set to Continue or Stop.<br/>
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The latter is intended for extra optional information, Write-Debug for debugging (so would seem to fit in this case).<br/>
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Additional: In PSH2 (at least) scripts using cmdlet binding will automatically get the -Verbose and -Debug switch parameters, locally enabling Write-Verbose and Write-Debug (i.e. overriding the preference variables) as compiled cmdlets and providers do.</t>