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:Indexing: use of plural or singular From:"Cadorette Johanne" <johanne -dot- cadorette -at- locusdialog -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 8 Jan 2002 12:02:11 -0500
I'm having trouble deciding between the use of the plural or singular
for index entries. For example, one of the entries is "entries." In most
cases, "entries" are referred to in the plural in our documentation
("testing transfers to entries," "creating entries," "checking available
entries" and so on). But once in a while, there's an exception, like
"operator entry." There is only ever one operator entry.
My predecessor liked using the singular across the board. The "Entry"
entry would have been singular, which I feel sounds odd when most of the
subentries require the use of the plural (for example, "Entry, tips for
naming" or "Entry, testing transfer to").
My instinct is to use the plural, but what to do when a few of the
subentries clearly require the singular? I wouldn't want to have two
entries, "entries" and "entries". Or would I?
Does this make any sense? If it does, suggestions, tips, ideas,
resources welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Johanne Cadorette
LocusDialog
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sponsored by eHelp Corporation, makers of RoboHelp. RoboHelp 2002 is now available! Get the very latest in Help functionality
to create superior Help systems. Get special savings when you buy
in January! Visit http://www.ehelp.com/techwr
---
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.
