RE: Using the conjunction OR in mutually exclusive options

["Mark Baker" <mbaker -at- analecta -dot- com>]

My opinion is that you should never present more than one equivalent method
of accomplishing something in a procedure. If someone is reading a
step-by-step procedure it is because they want to get a specific task done.
One method will suffice for this purpose; offering an alternative is just a
distraction.

A person who is sufficiently unfamiliar with the product to require
instruction of this kind does not need the extra chore of choosing between
two alternative, especially when there is no guidance provided on why to
choose one option over the other. Make their life simpler: choose for them.
If a person uses the application often, they will learn that there are
alternate ways of doing things. If they don't use it often, they don't care
that there are alternate ways of doing things. 

A good topic should do one thing. Putting alternative methods into a
procedure is an attempt to teach the interface to a user who is just trying
to get a job done. For users who want to learn the interface, write a topic
on how the interface works.

But if you absolutely must state the alternatives, the first form is both
clearer and more conventional. 

Mark

---
Mark Baker

* Every Page is Page One *
http://everypageispageone.com
http://twitter.com/mbakeranalecta
http://about.me/mark.baker 

> To open a menu:
> - Press Alt+the key for the underlined letter in the menu name
>     -or-
> - Use the LEFT ARROW key or the RIGHT ARROW key to move to 
> another menu
> 
> I'm more of the mind to write the procedure as:
> 
> Use one of two methods to open a menu:
> - Press Alt+the key for the underlined letter in the menu name
> - Use the LEFT ARROW key or the RIGHT ARROW key to move to 
> another menu

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