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I came across something rather odd today, and I just want to see how all
of you feel about this.
Maybe I'm missing something here, and if I am, someone please let me know.
The MS Manual of Style for Tech Pubs (2nd Ed.), pg. 216, says the
following:
"Do not use a period following the step number unless your design requires
it."
However, the "Correct" example for Multiple-step procedures (right above
this
statement) uses a period after the step number. Do you suppose this is here
to let us know that the MS writer has a sense of humor? Is it really the
standard
to NOT include the period after the step number?
1. Click the Belly button.
- or-
1 Click the Belly button.
I'm interested to hear what you all use, and what's the rationale for the
elimination
of the period. It's not something that was ever discussed in my Tech
Writing classes.
Is it more of a Desktop Publishing thing in general? I really don't want to
create a
holy war here, I just would like to know the rationale.
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Melissa Morgan
mmorgan -at- intrepid -dot- cdg-hargray -dot- com
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