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.
Subject:Re: Click Language From:"Kenneth M. Nuckols" <Knuck -at- BESTBUY -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 11 Feb 1997 11:10:22 -0600
>At 4:36 PM -0500 2/10/97, Amy Brown wrote:
>
>>Many of my users are not computer or Windows-proficient. Hence, I
>>substituted the phrase "click twice" for "double-click."
>
Amy,
I agree with Beth's comments that a "double-click" is a more precise term,
since the Operating System--be it Windows or the Mac system or presumably
OS/2--interprets two clicks within a specific period of time (usually a
fraction of a second) as a single action, the "double-click." If you give
your reader a glossary or define the term the first time you use it, they
should not be lost.
It's good to know your audience as you clearly do, but sometimes there is
real justification for using a "jargon" term in order to be precise. Just
be sure you help them bridge the gap between their knowledge and the new
term you need to teach them.
Ken
--------------------------------------------------------------
Kenneth Nuckols Corporate Trainer
Voice: (612) 947-2518 Best Buy Company, Inc.
FAX: (612) 996-4242 7075 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prarie, MN 55344
"I am YODA of Borg: Once you start down the path of
assimilation, forever will it control your destiny!"
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html