RE: "always read and follow the instructions"

["Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
> techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
> .com] On Behalf Of Milan Davidovic
> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 12:12 PM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: "always read and follow the instructions"
> 
> When I see a statement in a manual such as "Always read and 
> follow the instructions in this manual", two thoughts come to mind:
> 
>  - Following the instructions in the manual (i.e. the ones 
> actually in the manual, not the instructions you imagine) 
> presupposes having learned them, so the direction to "read" 
> them is redundant.

On what planet, my dear? "Following instructions" means reading one step and
performing that step only, and then going on to subsequent steps. 

>  - Telling someone to "do x" with no qualifiers provides no 
> options, so the modifier "always" is redundant.
> 

Who needs a qualifier? How can you follow an instruction if you don't read
it?

> Do you think "always read and follow the instructions" is 
> likely to be more effective than "follow the instructions"? 
> Do you think it depends on the context?
> 

They are saying, "Don't call us and tell us *why* you didn't follow the
instructions -- the manual tells you to do so ALWAYS." 


Bonnie Granat
http://www.GranatEdit.com


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