Re: Use of the second and third person in documentation

Subject: Re: Use of the second and third person in documentation
From: John Posada <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 07:57:05 -0800 (PST)


If I writing instruction that is followed by the reader, I say "you".
If I'm writing instruction for an admin who is doing things for their
users, I refer to the admin as "you" and their audience as "user".

Example: To configure the server, you should enter "X", which will
allow the user to do "Y".

> Is it standard practice to refer to users of
> software a "the user" or "users," or as "you"?
>
> Examples: 1. Users can click...
> 2. You can click...


=====
John Posada
Senior Technical Writer

?Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone
amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built
the Titanic.? - Dave Barry



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References:
Use of the second and third person in documentation: From: A.H.

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