Re: Nitpicky little style question

Subject: Re: Nitpicky little style question
From: Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:55:06 -0500

Chinell, David F (GE Indust, Security) wrote:

You can't just invent new style and language and usage based on what you think will work for a user.

What "works" for a user is style and language and usage of which he is not even aware. That means style and language and usage he expects from habit. Those habits are begun at the outset of formal education, are expanded as the reader exposes himself to different communication media, and are reinforced on a daily basis.

The mechanical underpinnings of those habits are codified in various style guides and dictionaries, and are not invented by individual writers.


SInce I was born before the computer age, most of the styles, language and usage I learned at the outset of formal education didn't address today's landscape. For example, when I was a kid, a radio button was associated with the big tube radio sitting on top of the corner table, and a check box was someplace where you placed the canceled checks after they were returned from the bank. Times change, terminology changes...regardless of our habits.

Personally, I have no problem with individuals trying to clarify their communications. I support style guides, but I also see most style guides are also constantly evolving. Just as the product landscape has changed since I began my career in technology, so should our ways of explaining those new products to our readers. This requires experimentation with the terms until those experiments congeal down to a standard term, as "Radio Button" has evolved to become "Option" and "Click On" has become "Click."

As for habits and readers....if you call a radio button an "Fred's Folly," provide a definition and use the term consistently throughout your documentation, I don't think the readers would be lost in cyberspace.

It's only my opinion....

Al

--

Al Geist
Technical Writing, Online Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design, Award Winning Videos, Professional Photography
Voice/Msg: 802-658-3140

Cell: 802-578-3964
E-mail: al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com <mailto:al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
URL: www.geistassociates.com <http://www.geistassociates.com> (online portfolio/resume)

See also:
URL: www.geistimages.com <http://www.geistimages.com> (fine art prints for home for office, and note cards for all occasions)

"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer "Present" or "Not guilty.""
Theodore Roosevelt


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

References:
RE: Nitpicky little style question: From: Chinell, David F \(GE Indust, Security\)

Previous by Author: Re: Non-English tech writer
Next by Author: Re: Why I like this list but not OT (long)
Previous by Thread: RE: Nitpicky little style question
Next by Thread: RE: Nitpicky little style question


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads