TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: FWD: Online help wording question From:Melissa Fisher <MFisher -at- AUTOMATEDLOGIC -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 12 Nov 1997 09:14:11 -0500
>I'm having trouble finding ways to word sentences like the following:
>
>"To select the program characteristics you want to view, touch the choice
>you want to select in the View selection area."
>
Hmmm. I don't think you need to use extra words just because it's a touch
screen interface. Use "touch the option" or "touch the button" or "touch
the [whatever the thing looks like]," the same way you would use "click the
[thingy]." If my users were unfamiliar with touch screen technology, I
might bend over backwards and say "touch the [doohickey] on the screen" or
even "touch the screen."
Not knowing the specifics of your example or your audience, I might re-word
your sentence as follows: "Touch the program option you want to view in the
View selection area."
My $.02
Melissa Fisher
mfisher -at- automatedlogic -dot- com