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Is there a quick-and-dirty PDF of "Minimalism: Creating Manuals People Can Use" lurking anywhere?
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Arnold, Ann
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 8:51 AM
To: Becca; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: introducing steps
After taking JoAnn Hacko's course, "Minimalism: Creating Manuals People Can Use," based on user tests and research, I'd do away with intro sentences all together whenever possible. Just use the Heading ...
To Add a Gadget to the Widget (heading or subheading)
1. Navigate to the blah blah
2. Select the blah blah from the blah blah
Etc.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ann -dot- arnold=kla-tencor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ann -dot- arnold=kla-tencor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Becca
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 7:48 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: introducing steps
I'm taking a class in technical writing. My teacher says never to introduce a series of steps with an infinitive (To install Sigil) but to use an independent clause ("To install Sigil, follow these steps:" or words to that effect. To me, the clause "follow these steps" is imlied by the fact that steps follow. Still, it's the teacher, so I have to follow her style.
Is there a more graceful way to introduce steps? how do yo do it? I'm pretty much coming up dry.
Thanks
Becca
=========================
There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays
And every single one of them is right!
--Rudyard Kipling
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