RE: Use of "Please" and the Like in Documentation

["Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com>]

I use "please" only when the reader is doing the company a favor, such
as contacting us for a purchase or with information about bugs or
possible improvements.

Of course, I suppose a lot depends on your audience. If you are writing
for automobile technicians, "please" would be bizarre: "On the BMW
2.5L-152ci-S6, please tighten the oil drain plug to 21 Ft-Lbs."

If you are writing to instruct on how to file income taxes
electronically, the not infrequent use of "please" might make the
difference between unhappy users and angry and unhappy users.

Leonard

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of Barbara Vega
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 10:18 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Use of "Please" and the Like in Documentation

A poll (of sorts: How many of you use words like "Please" etc. in your
documentation. Example:

"For additional information on underwater basket weaving in the third
world, please refer to the topic "Sending Overstuffed Cotton/Coton
T-Shirts to the Brazilian Coral Reef."

Or 

"Please see Chapter 12 for additional information on underwater basket
weaving in the third world." 

 or 


"Please contact the Keystone Cop Help Desk at (555) 555-1212 between the
hours of 2:00 and 4:00 A.M., PST.  
-----------------------------------------
Versus


"For additional information on underwater basket weaving in the third
world, refer to the topic "Sending Overstuffed Cotton/Coton T-Shirts to
the Brazilian Coral Reef."

Or 

"See Chapter 12 for additional information on underwater basket weaving
in the third world." 

 or 


I would add--
"(You may) contact the Keystone Cop Help Desk at (555) 555-1212 between
the hours of 2:00 and 4:00 A.M., PST.

================================
I think documentation, particularly for software, should have an
authoritative tone. (Also, if it is to be localized, I think "please"
and the like could get in the way. OTOH, the opposite could be true for
some cultures.)

What are your thoughts?

Barbara Vega

  

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