Re: Caution Rewrite

Subject: Re: Caution Rewrite
From: Jim Grey <jwg -at- ACD4 -dot- ACD -dot- COM>
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 1994 08:40:00 -0500

Many have made suggestions:

1) BE SURE THE HEATER'S FEET ARE ATTACHED
IN CORRECT POSITION DURING OPERATION

2) "Be sure the base is attached in correct position during operation"

3) "Position base correctly before operating heater."

4) Before operating this unit, ensure that the heater's feet are
attached in the correct position.

5) CAUTION--RISK OF FIRE
if heater's feet are not attached correctly

6) Do not operate heater before attaching
its feet in the correct position.

7) Attach heater feet in the correct
position before operating.


Too many of these sound like manual-ese. Words like "operate" and "ensure"
and "correct position" all have simpler synonyms. You can buy these heaters
at Wal-Mart. The caution note should be readable to about anyone who shops
at Wal-Mart. I like #5 best, because it is short, direct, and uses mostly
5-cent words.

I might want to add explanation:

CAUTION--RISK OF FIRE
when heater's feet are not attached correctly. The heater
might fall over, which might cause it to catch fire.

but this loses #5's advantage of brevity.



jim grey |beebeebumbleandthestingersmottthehooplerachelsingerslonnie
jwg -at- acd4 -dot- acd -dot- com |mackandtwangandeddiehere'smyringwe'regoingsteadytakeiteasy
Terre Haute, IN -- The Silicon Cornfield


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