> without explicitly identifying to whom I am referring, it is very
> difficult to write a cohesive sentence about the procedure that I
> want the user to follow. In these cases, I tend to say "The Test
> Operator clicks here, the PC responds with this, the Unit Under
> Test does that..."
But if the manual's written for the Test Operator, the imperative-voice
version -- "Click here. The PC responds with this, the Unit Under Test
does that..." -- seems just as cohesive.
Plus, since there's only one "you" in imperative-voice instructions,
your reader will never have to wonder whether a pronoun in your manual
refers to him or to someone else. And, since "you" is gender-neutral,
you won't have to spend as much time ensuring (or defending your
decision not to ensure) gender-neutrality in your choice of pronouns.
-Andrew
=== Andrew Warren - awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com
=== Synaptics, Inc - Santa Clara, CA
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