Re: Bullets

[DURL <durl -at- BUFFNET -dot- NET>]

Hi Damien,
        I looked this up in  Procedure Writing: principles and practice*,
by
Wieringa, Moore and Barnes (Battelle Press, 1993).
        In their section on lists, they cite research to suggest that for
lists with three or more entries, extra white space is preferable. Their
example shows indents.
        They state that, for one or two items, use of white space is
optional.
        They say, "Each item in the list is emphasized by being surrounded
by white space so that readers can easily and efficiently scan through the
list." (p 121)
        There's more but all I have time for!!

        Mary

Mary Durlak  Erie Documentation Inc.
East Aurora, New York (near Buffalo)
durl -at- buffnet -dot- net

On Thu, 13 Nov 1997, Damien Braniff wrote:

> Perhaps you help settle an argument for me that has been going on for some
> time now between some friends of mine regarding bullets.  It basically
> comes down to the question should bulleted lists be indented or not.  I
> have my own preferences but have so far kept out of the argument.
>
> One says they shouldn't be indented.  Easier to read (eye follows flow);
> looks "neater"; default style in a lot of packages such as Word etc
> therefore readers probably familiar with the style.
>
> The other uses the same first statement (easier to read) to argue for
> indenting.  If indented it makes you stop/slow the flow and pick up the
> information you have deemed to need a list!  Who wants to copy MS?!
>
> As I said this has gone on for some time now. Does anyone know of any
> research etc that has been done? Perhaps even a mixture of the two might be
> best but that upsets my sense of consistency!
>
>
>
> Damien Braniff
> Technical Author
> PAC International
>
>
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>
>


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