TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I'm having a discussion with my manager (I report into the Engineering dept as the only writer) about bullet styles. I use a square bullet for the main bullet and another bullet style for a sub bullet. I use the main bullet style regardless if the list is in the main body or a step. My manager thinks because the bullet list is in a step, that the bullet should not look the same as if it's in the body. He uses Word as his guide-that when you press the indent arrow that the bullet style changes. I develop templates in Word and Framemaker and want the Word templates to match with what I have for Frame, which is my main tool.
He also said that field technicians may be scanning down for say square bullets and get confused if they see a square bullet in a step list. I've never heard this complaint, but that doesn't mean it's not relevant-just seems odd.
I found several examples on Microsoft.com for Word styles as well as the Microsoft Manual of style, where the same bullet icon is used for a list in the body or in a step. Any opinions on this?
Thanks
Pam Harper
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help. Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need.
Try Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.