RE: Chattiness in manuals

["Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>]

Hi Sara,

As you say, "maybe it's cultural," but I can't figure out your post (even with the winking icon). Do you *actually* think that most American tech writers write chatty manuals, and that most of them get paid by the word?

On both matters, even a cursory reading of TECHWR-L would prove you wrong.

Best Regards,

Dan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sara Török
> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:00 AM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: Re: Chattiness in manuals
> 
> Hi Sarah,
> 
> I would presume the writer is American, because:
> 
> 1. They are very fond of holding 'lectures' or 
> telling stories as if they had a live audience 
> or as if the text was supposed to be read out 
> loud.
> 2. All writers in US of any kind still get 
> paid by the word (or so the malicious rumor 
> 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
> 

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