Re[2]: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?

Subject: Re[2]: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?
From: "Grant Hogarth" <grant -at- hedgewizard -dot- net>
To: "Lin Sims" <ljsims -dot- ml -at- gmail -dot- com>, TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:40:52 +0000

All I can think of is to make the numbers a distinctly different font or font color (or both) from what you use for procedure numbering.

------ Original Message ------
From: "Lin Sims" <ljsims -dot- ml -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: 4/24/2018 7:38:54 AM
Subject: Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?

Resolution: he's fine with numbers if we can figure out a way to ensure
that people don't get confused if there is both a graphic with a number key
AND a procedure. I can get behind that--ambiguity is bad.

Now to figure out a way to remove the ambiguity. If anyone has pointers on
that, let me know. I'll consult the book for a bit and see if it has ideas.

Thanks for all the feedback.

On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 8:50 AM, Rosalma Arcelay <rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net> wrote:

No one is spelling out numbers. I use Arabic digits when I label a
diagram. My coworker uses letters.


Oh, that makes more sense now! :)

Maybe a coin toss?

Rosie Arcelay
Technical Writer II
cPanel, Inc.
rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net



On Apr 24, 2018, at 7:30 AM, Lin Sims <ljsims -dot- ml -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:

No one is spelling out numbers. I use Arabic digits when I label a
diagram. My coworker uses letters. We want to be consistent between the two
of us, and we're disagreeing on which is better to use when labeling areas
in a piece of hardware, locations in a floorplan, or in a software UI.

I did do some research on the book I showed him, the one he rejected as
"the writer doesn't know what he's talking about". Turns out the writer is
a trained graphic designer, has a 350-cite bibliography, and this book is
referenced in a lot of other books about illustrating technical information.

We'll see how it goes after I point this out to him. We've not been
working together too long, but so far we've managed to compromise on pretty
much everything where our personal styles differ. I'd say we're about 50/50
on that, which is good.

On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 8:18 AM, Rosalma Arcelay <rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net> wrote:

I donât think I have ever seen a graphic with numbers spelled out.
That being said, the first question I would ask isâ Who is your user and
how will they be using this graphic?
If itâs a graphic thatâs meant to be scannable (aka, read quickly), I
would go with the numbers. Same if itâs being translated.
If itâs not, and itâs something thatâs going into a magazine, for
example, where people are taking their time to read it, then spelling out
numbers might work (even though it would be weird, imo).

Rosie Arcelay
Technical Writer II
cPanel, Inc.
rosie -at- cpanel -dot- net



On Apr 24, 2018, at 1:54 AM, Erika Yanovich <ERIKA_y -at- rad -dot- com> wrote:

If not too much text is involved, I'd used call-outs/bubbles with the
actual explanation inside.
HTH,
Erika
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--
Lin Sims





--
Lin Sims
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References:
Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Rosalma Arcelay
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Rosalma Arcelay
Re: Numbers or Letters when labeling a graphic?: From: Lin Sims

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