RE: a question about verb tense/is or was?

["Giordano, Connie" <Connie -dot- Giordano -at- FMR -dot- COM>]

Or if you want to indicate that they are in the right place to begin the
task:

1) To open the ABC window, click ABC.

and so forth.

I'll see your 2 cents and raise you 1 :)

Connie

-----Original Message-----
From: Christine -dot- Anameier -at- seagate -dot- com
[mailto:Christine -dot- Anameier -at- seagate -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 10:54 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: re: a question about verb tense/is or was?



Steve Hudson gave this example of future tense: "1. Click the ABC - the ABC
window will open."

I agree with this use of the imperative, but I would question whether we
need to tell users the ABC window will open. If they're following the
procedure, they'll see it happen. Seems redundant to tell them, unless
we're trying to draw their attention to some subtle clue they might
otherwise miss.

My own approach is usually more like:
1. Click ABC.
2. In the ABC window, select ________.
3. From the popup menu that appears, select _____...

my 2 cents...
Christine



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