Re: Single-step procedures

[Paul Baechler <bachp -at- HIWAAY -dot- NET>]

>> Further to the posting earlier about numbers-for-steps and
>> bullets-for-lists, my practice is to use a bullet for a procedure
>> with only one step. A reviewer has just asked me to change this
>> to a number 1 "for consistency". I figure a number 1 implies
>> more than one step.  What do you-all think?

A lot depends on exactly what it is you are writing. I used to write the
procedures in aircraft operator's manuals (and was also the subject
matter expert). "Consistency" was part of standardization, and all
procedure steps, including single steps, were numbered. There are a
number of valid reasons for this, two of which are user expectation and
the requirements of the checklist, which is derived from the expanded
checklist in the operator's manual and includes only numbered items. In
this case neither a dingbat, nor an indent, nor inclusion in text would
be acceptable.

***************************************************************************
Paul Baechler                     Most people will rather die than think.-
bachp -at- hiwaay -dot- net                                            Langewiesche
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