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Subject:Re: Reassuring language From:Suzette Seveny <sseveny -at- PETVALU -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 22 Jun 1998 14:13:03 -0400
My rule is to never use these types of words. They are condescending to
the end user (especially if he/she finds the procedure(s) difficult). If
they were so easy, why do they need a user's guide or online help? Bottom
line - not at all reassuring, not helpful, and more dangerous than fluff.
Suzette
On Monday, June 22, 1998 2:02 PM, John David Hickey
[SMTP:jdavid -at- farabi -dot- com] wrote:
> I'm updating a user's guide and online help that another writer created.
> This other writer peppered his procedures with reassuring words like
> "simply" and "easily" ("Simply click here" or "You can easily do this").
I
> find these words are extraneous and do nothing to reassure the reader. If
> anything, they would make me nervous ("Now don't worry Mr. Hickey. This
> simple procedure won't hurt a bit... <yank>").
>
> My question is, do these reassuring words help the user at all or they
just
> fluff?
>
>
