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: User Names + Joe Bloggs From:"Ackerson, Allan" <aackerson -at- logicon -dot- com> To:Ead Ni Domhnaill <ead_ciara -at- hotmail -dot- com>, TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 16 Jun 2000 06:45:52 -0700
Uncertain about others, but the practice in government tech writing circles
is to not use personal names at all, fictional or otherwise, and use terms
such as "the user" or similar genderless terminology.
Cheers!
Al
-----Original Message-----
From: Ead Ni Domhnaill [mailto:ead_ciara -at- hotmail -dot- com]
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 7:23 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Cc: eadaoin -dot- odonnell -at- softco -dot- com
Subject: User Names + Joe Bloggs
Hello all,
Its a beautiful sunny day in dublin and I have another question..
Are there any papers or guideline for the use of names in User Manuals -
I know the John Doe and Joe Bloggs are busy men? But are there any
guidelines - I don't want to alienate any culture/user/sex etc.?
I was wondering does anyone have any advice - The software is at present
distributed around Europe - but there are expansion plans for the US.
