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Good point, Richard. I would add that if the introductory sentence doesn't make the matter clear enough, it sounds as if the user can easily test the two options to see how they work without causing any problems. It's best to avoid documenting what the user can easily discover on his own.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Combs, Richard
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 9:54 AM
To: Monique Semp; TechWR-L
Subject: RE: wording q - is "both" superfluous?
Monique Semp wrote:
> So in the doc I want to say that âYou can <access the function screen>
> from two starting points in the menu:â, then give the bullet list of
> the two menu paths, and then I want to explain that they bring you to
> the same screen.
>
> So for that final sentence, which of the following is best, and, more
> importantly, why?
>
> * Both menu selections bring you to the <function> screen.
> * Either menu selection brings you to the <function> screen.
You start by telling them to access the <function> screen in one of two ways and end by telling them those are the two ways to access the <function> screen. Too many words. Too much repetition and detail. That's how you end up with a thousand-page manual that nobody ever reads.
> Or, maybe I avoid it altogether and just say, âWhen you choose the
> <function> from the Dashboard menu, the <function> screen appears.â
Much better.
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