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: Colons in Headings From:"Dick Margulis" <margulis -at- mail -dot- fiam -dot- net> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Sat, 20 Nov 99 21:00:31 -0500
Another approach is to do something typographically that is the semantic equivalent of the colon.
For example treat the words after the (omitted) colon in a different font, shading, size, or color (pick one!), either on the same or a different line.
I have no objection to the colon, either. This is just by way of offering another approach if there are strong objections from others in your company to the use of the colon.
Dick
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Mark L. Levinson" <nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il>
>Johnny Brown asks about headings like--
B) Getting the Right Answer: Extraction
Personally, I have nothing against colons in headings, and
I've used them when the alternative was adding an unwanted
further level to the hierarchy of headings. For example,
instead of
B) Getting the Right Answer
1) Formulation
2) Extraction
I'd go for
B) Getting the Right Answer: Formulation
C) Getting the Right Answer: Extraction
if the further level would have created a structural
anomaly in the document.