Re: Instruction suggestions?

Subject: Re: Instruction suggestions?
From: kcronin -at- daleen -dot- com
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 11:28:22 -0600

Tom-

I just gave your rewrite a quick scan - looks like a big improvement!

One thing I notice is your extensive use of future tense, like:

"Press F1. The widget will change into a woozle."

At my first tech writing job, my editor pounded it into my head that I
must stay in the present tense, like:

"Press F1. The widget changes into a woozle."

I'm not trying to start a nitpicking war; just reporting on something I
got slammed for when I was a newbie. To this day, _I_ don't find the
future tense that objectionable in this context, but some tech editors do.
You may find yourself in a shop with similar rules someday, so I'm just
pointing out a potential landmine.

It looks like your use of this tense is very consistent, and your meaning
is clear, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it.


- Keith Cronin

_____________________________________


Tech writers. Chicks dig 'em.




^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Announcing new options for IPCC 01, October 24-27 in Santa Fe,
New Mexico: attend the entire event or select a single day.
For details and online registration, visit http://ieeepcs.org/2001

Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: Re: Writing: better or worse after years on the job?
Next by Author: Re: Do'ers and Doubters (was observation about engineers)
Previous by Thread: Instruction suggestions?
Next by Thread: Instruction Suggestions: A Rewrite


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads