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Subject:RE: Chattiness in manuals From:Liz_Vela -at- bcbstx -dot- com To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:19:49 -0500
I can't think of any user who reads manuals for fun. I'd leave out any
chatty remarks and make it short and to the point.
Liz
"Melissa Nelson"
<melmis36 -at- hotmail
.com> To
Sent by: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
techwr-l-bounces+ cc
liz_vela=bcbstx.c
om -at- lists -dot- techwr-l Subject
.com RE: Chattiness in manuals
10/17/2006 08:22
AM
I would love to be able to add the tea reference to the manuals I
write, however my manuals are generally aimed at the military and I am
not sure if the average GI drinks tea....maybe I could say "have a
beer" instead! Then maybe I could say "How much unemployment do I get
again?" :)
From: Kevin Amery <kamery -at- opentext -dot- com>
To: "'david -at- farbey -dot- co -dot- uk'" <david -at- farbey -dot- co -dot- uk>,
"'TECHWR-L'"<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
CC: 'Sarah Bouchier' <Sarah -dot- Bouchier -at- exony -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Chattiness in manuals
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:04:33 -0400
>I agree, it might be appropriate for a "friendly" type of product,
either
>consumer related or aimed at a "hip" profession (animation, for
example...
>Although even there, it would have to be a particular subset of
the
>animation field that doesn't take itself too seriously).
>
>If it were aimed at a professional market, though, this type of
writing
>probably wouldn't fit. Also, if it's dealing with the type of
procedure
>someone might have to do while agravated ("this @%$*^ thing is
down
>AGAIN!!") any writing that doesn't get straight to the point could
>antagonise the user.
>
>As is frequently the case, I think it comes down to knowing your
audience.
>
>Kevin Amery
>Technical Writer, Research and Development
>
>Open Text Corporation
>1 Sparks Ave.
>North York, ON. M2H 2W1
>CANADA
>
>Phone: +1 (416)496-2200-2402
>e-mail: kamery -at- opentext -dot- com
>Web site: http://www.opentext.com
>
>
>
>
>
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: David Farbey [mailto:dfarbey -at- yahoo -dot- co -dot- uk]
>Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 7:17 AM
>To: TECHWR-L
>Cc: Sarah Bouchier
>Subject: Re: Chattiness in manuals
>
>Sarah Bouchier asked:
> > How would you react to a manual that said, "The installation of
this
> > component may take several minutes. This would be a good time
to go
> > and get a cup of tea"?
> >
> > (Other than concluding that the author had run mad and needed
to be
> > fitted with a snazzy waistcoat with long sleeves, of course)
>It depends. In some cases, that would be really inappropriate. But
I can
>imagine a scenario in which the manual was for a "laid-back",
"cool"
>product, and was deliberately designed to be friendly and
whimsical in order
>to fit into the atmosphere - the "branding" - that the product's
owners
>wanted to create, and then it would be fine. There's no rule that
says user
>assistance information must always be formal.
>
>I think I'll go and have a cup of tea now. ;-)
>
>David (in London, where tea is always appropriate!)
>
>--
>David Farbey
>Information Design Consultant
>david -at- farbey -dot- co -dot- uk
>Office +44-(0)20-8492-7807
>Fax +44-(0)20-8492-0159
>Mobile +44-(0)7876-184-588
>also at Clifford Sells Ltd.,
>Documentation and Recruitment Specialists david -at- cliffordsells -dot- com
>www.cliffordsells.com
>
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