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Subject:Is grammar important. From:"M. David Orr" <whitears -at- ORRNET -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 21 May 1998 13:24:20 -0500
As one who sees many user manuals and online help facilities in user tests,
I think it's one of the least important elements of usability. Graphical
mental models, organization, audience-targeting of mini-manuals, job task
analysis, appropriate screen graphics, and good indexing are much more
important. However, bad grammar can be distracting to some people, can cause
misunderstanding, and create credibility issues. It's like wearing a power
suit to a job interview, it doesn't really help doing a good interview, but
it doesn't distract the interviewer either.
___
M. David Orr
Orr & Associates/Usability Management
7366 N. Lincoln Avenue Suite 101
Lincolnwood, IL 60646 USA
Phone: 847-677-1920
mailto: whitears -at- orrnet -dot- com http://www.orrnet.com
