RE: Chattiness in manuals

["Claire Conant" <Claire -dot- Conant -at- Digeo -dot- com>]

I'm with you, Sara.

As an editor, I'd strike out this type of writing in a heartbeat, without thinking twice about it. People aren't perusing user guides or help manuals (online or printed) for entertainment or amusement, and they don't read them like a novel (front to back or even whole sections word for word.) It's not fiction or a magazine story. It's help - fast and to the point - so they can move on and do more important things. 

If I were buying a user guide or manual that had this content, well, I just wouldn't. I almost didn't buy a manual because it used the word "utilize" because a) that's my pet peeve, and b) it's not fast and to the point. 

Just my perspective.

Claire




Sara Torok says: 

Seriously, this style could be fine in a tutorial, but in a reference 
manual, online help, or the like - NEVER.
I'm looking for an answer to my question, a solution to my problem, facts, 
facts, facts. Don't waste my time with chitchat, jokes and anecdotes. I'm 
not up for it right now. I'm trying to do my job.

Maybe it's cultural...

Regards
Sara
______________________
Sara Török
Technical Writer



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