RE: icons vs. buttons?

["Melissa Nelson" <melmis36 -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

Actually....the acronym "MSG" works for me, as I tend to get the same sort 
of odd allergic reaction to the Microsoft Style Guide as I get to the food 
additive...hmm, very interesting!:)

Melissa


>From: "Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>
>To: "'Keith Hansen'" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>,"'Yves JEAUROND'" 
><jingting -at- rogers -dot- com>
>CC: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>Subject: RE: icons vs. buttons?
>Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 12:24:03 -0700
>
>I call Microsoft's Style Guide, "MSG," but I think it's usually referred to
>as MSTP.  I don't care for MSG, the food additive and I don't care for MSG,
>the style guide.  MSTP (I guess I'll refer to it like wiki says we should)
>does have many rules that are consistent with rules that I prefer, but it
>also has many rules that contradict my preference.  Like, one of its
>examples, "On the *File* menu, click *Open*."  I prefer to "select" when
>there is a drop-down list, even a list from a toolbar.  So I would "Select
>*Open* from the *File* menu."  The way I see it, Microsoft is no more an
>authority of documentation style than it is an authority of documentation
>software.
>
>Microsoft doesn't really come up with anything new but it does use or mimic
>tools and rules that are easiest for the general population to grasp.  That
>is why its software is "user-friendly."  More people can "use" it, so it is
>"friendly."  I think that its style guide follows the same path.  I have
>found errors and inconsistencies in MSTP, although it's been a year since I
>have used the guide, so I don't remember the errors.  Some of the errors
>involved examples between "correct" and "incorrect" that matched.
>
>Personally, I wouldn't rely on MSTP as an authority, but it can be a guide
>and perhaps help support arguments.  I once argued about the use of a comma
>before the last list item.  I said that it is necessary for clarity and 
>some
>companies, like HP when I was there, require it for legal reasons, but the
>company style guide said to leave it out.  I mentioned that the style guide
>was based on MSTP and I won the argument but not the comma.  MSTP supported
>my rule, but the resident tech writer did not.
>
>Ultimately, if a company uses a style guide, then the writer should use 
>that
>guide, regardless of personal preference.
>
>Lauren
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> > Behalf Of Keith Hansen
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 9:13 AM
> > To: Yves JEAUROND
> > Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: RE: icons vs. buttons?
> >
> > <<have you checked your copy of the _Microsoft Manual of Style for
> > Technical Publications_?
> > It recommends: "Click OK.">>
> >
> > I did check it. But I wondered if everyone else agrees the MS
> > Manual is
> > OK regarding OK!
> >
> > Keith
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: Yves JEAUROND [mailto:jingting -at- rogers -dot- com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 9:09 AM
> > To: Keith Hansen
> > Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> > Subject: RE: icons vs. buttons?
> >
> >
> > Keith Hansen:
> >
> > Conscensus-nonsensus; :-)
> > have you checked your copy of the _Microsoft Manual of Style for
> > Technical Publications_?
> >
> > It recommends: "Click OK."
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > YJ
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