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:Re: The "Tell them once up front" style From:Howard <howardg -at- SAVVY -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 16 Mar 1995 08:42:01 -0500
Arthur Comings wrote:
>>I'd love to be able to write in the
"Tell them once up front and it's their fault if they don't remember"
documentation style, but I think that's for our convenience, and
doesn't let readers define how they actually interact with manuals.
Thjis is very true. My feelijng is that a reader is looking in a tech
manual because they feel or fear that their job is in jeopardy. Telling
them that "This was reviewed earlier", without specific references to
chapter and verse, only hieghtens their frustration. The reader will also
blame the document for the problem, anyway.
