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.
Eavesdropping on my partner's list, I came across the numbering system
discussion. A bit old now, but you might be interested in this paper:
Waller, Robert (1980), 'Numbering systems in text', in J Hartley (ed), The
Psychology of Written Communication, 1980, London: Kogan Page.
It reviews some of the issues raised, and raises some rhetorical issues
about the formality and pretensions to completeness of numbered paras (the
ultimate numbered text is Wittgenstein's Tractatus).
A rare reference to numbered text in a rhetoric textbook is in chapter 1 of
Walter Nash's 'Designs in prose', London: Longman, 1980
My piece is lightweight, so don't make an effort (although I'll mail you a
photocopy on request), but Nash is a must-have if you don't already know
it.
Rob Waller, Information Design Unit, UK (rwaller -at- idu -dot- co -dot- uk)
c/o Jenny Waller, Coventry University
jwaller -at- idu -dot- co -dot- uk
