Re: Is it polite to point web browsers?

[Julia Norquist <techiejules -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

Rather than telling them, "Point your browser to www.randomaddress.com," I tell them, "Go to www.randomaddress.com." (Their browser is already open from earlier procedures.) I use simpler terms whenever possible. Sometimes an audience is educated or skilled enough to grasp "In order to access the interface, navigate your browser to the URL and input your credentialing data," but mine is not. My users will stop reading and probably throw the manual away.

Jules
 
----- Original Message ----
From: "Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>
To: Julia Norquist <techiejules -at- yahoo -dot- com>; Techwr-l <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:48:36 PM
Subject: RE: Is it polite to point web browsers?


Julia Norquist wrote: 

> "Point to" or "point at" is too technical for some of my 
> users. They won't know what pointing a browser means. I don't 
> use "navigate" or "browse to," either. I just tell them to "go."

If they don't know what "point to," "navigate," or "browse to" mean, how
do they know how to "go"? 

Richard


------
Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------


       
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