Re: Use of Optional in instructions

Subject: Re: Use of Optional in instructions
From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
To: "techwr-l List" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:48:49 -0700

If your readers have a habit of not reading the entire instruction, than the
SME's argument is valid. Vincent's suggestion could help, or you could
rewrite the instruction to say something like "If you want to block the
operator from transmistitng audion, select the Tx Inhibit check box."

The next question is, do you need to explain to the reader why one might or
might not want to use this, or is this something your readers will all know?

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Megan (ST-CO/ENG2.2)" <Megan -dot- Bruce -at- us -dot- bosch -dot- com>
> An interesting debate has started at my workplace... is the following
> use of "optional" acceptable? If not, any suggestions on other ways to
> 1. Select the Tx Inhibit check box, to block the operator from
> transmitting audio (optional).
>
> A SME has put forth the argument that a user may not catch the
> (optional) due to not reading the entire instruction.


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Follow-Ups:

References:
Use of Optional in instructions: From: Bruce Megan (ST-CO/ENG2.2)

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