Re: Typographical conventions

Subject: Re: Typographical conventions
From: Janice Gelb <janice -dot- gelb -at- sun -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:17:34 +1100

Harry Bacheler wrote:
> I agree to a certain extent.
>
> If your steps are in a 'numbered' list, there might be a reason for not
> capitalizing and bolding.
>
> However, if you have a narrative paragraph containing 'many' steps to be
> performed, Capitalizing and Bolding the 'key caps', pop-ups, and menu
> selections, may help the reader to understand what is actually happening.
> (Of course, you have to take into account the reading level of the reader.)
>
> I have seen, and edited a great num ber of procedure docuemtns that were
> narrative in nature. When stepping through the paragraph, picking ouut the
> steps, it was sometimes difficult 'deciphering' the paragraph and the
> embedded 'instruction.
>

Seems to me that the answer to this problem is to
put the procedural information in numbered steps,
not to litter the paragraph with bold. I think
the bold would still contribute to difficulty
in deciphering the instructional information.

-- Janice

***********************************************************
Janice Gelb | The only connection Sun has with
janice -dot- gelb -at- sun -dot- com | this message is the return address

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

References:
RE: Typographical conventions: From: Harry Bacheler

Previous by Author: Re: Typographical conventions
Next by Author: Re: Rant: Giving up on XML
Previous by Thread: RE: Typographical conventions
Next by Thread: Re: Typographical conventions


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


Sponsored Ads