Re: Where to place the word "optional" in heading text

[Robert Lauriston <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com>]

Generally I prefer *not* to put "optional" in headings but instead to
put a more detailed explanation after the heading, such as "This
command is available only if you have installed the whatsit module"
with some explanation of why you'd want to buy the module.

When I have had a reason to put it in the heading, I put it in
parentheses at the end, so that it's easier to read and emphasize the
primary information over the secondary fact that it's optional.

On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 10:20 AM, Hannah Drake <hannah -at- formulatrix -dot- com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Just curious where you place the word "optional" in headings. We're listing
> key features for a product, and some are optional. Marketing wants to put
> optional at the beginning "Optional Cool Thing" and I want to do this:
> "Cool Thing (Optional)".
>
> My reason: If someone reads optional, then they automatically pay less
> attention to the feature because they may or may not purchase it. His
> reason: he was told that parenthetical text should not exist because if
> something is worth saying at all then it shouldn't be in parenthesis. I
> have heard his argument before and generally agree, but I disagree for this
> use.
>
> What do you all think?
>
> -Hannah
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