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I'm not sure why would anyone scan for bulleted information. If anything, would a reader not scan for section or procedure headers, then drill down from there?
I use the same bullet styles in steps as in body text; but because steps are numbered, the step text is indented; and bullets that appear as part of a step are indented further. So step bullets never visually align with bullets in body text, so its as if they used a different bullet style (kind of). And procedure titles are formatted with an arrow icon, with text in a distinct colour, so they really stand out.
If that's the case with your design, then perhaps there's your rebuttal.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Pam Harper
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 1:43 PM
To: 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
Subject: Bullet Styles
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
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