Re: The second person in user guides

[Beth Agnew <beth -dot- agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>]

It always comes back to audience. What is the best style for your 
customers? While the "you" is implied in the imperative, you may have 
occasion to address the reader directly. For example: Click the New 
Record button. Enter customer data into the fields provided. In the 
Notes field, you may want to add information that helps you remember 
details about the previous meetings you have had with this customer.

The style you choose will depend on the publication, the audience, and 
the tone you are trying to set with that particular user group. A guide 
is just that, a set of good practices that it is recommended one follow 
for consistency. If there exceptions, as long as they are applied 
consistently, your publications will work.
--Beth

Sagendorph, Wallace wrote: