Pet Peeves (was Re: The 'user' in User Manual)

[Mary Arrotti]

This is a good point. It's important to recognize your own pet peeves and to prevent them from making your writing less clear & effective. 
   
  Personally, I really dislike anthropomorphic writing. 
  1) Do this and the system allows you to do that.
  2) Do this and you can do that.
  There are instances (#1) where avoiding this type of writing makes for better clarity (#2). But sometimes it's clearer - for my audience - if I write something like "the system imports XYZ data." So, I do it. I still don't like it but that's what makes it *my* pet peeve. 
   
  Another pet peeve is that I don't like using the phrase "you must." 
  1) To do this, you must do that. 
  2) To do this, do that. 
  I find the phrase "you must" as in #1 above negative whereas #2 seems neutral. This has nothing to do with the use of pronouns. I find pronouns - whether implied or not - to be useful. [Please let's not reopen that topic.] ut I don't like using "must" "have to" etc. in my docs. But there are instances - where certain actions have significant consequences - where I can see value in their use.  
   
  
Steve Read <steve at readonly.com> wrote:
  At the very first login ever in history by anyone? By using "the first 
time you login," that ambiguity disappears.

Steve

Lauren wrote:
> I would avoid the pronouns and the passive voice.
>
> "The system displays the new user welcome message at the first login."
>
> Lauren 
 
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