Re: Variables in API documentation

Subject: Re: Variables in API documentation
From: Peter Brown <pbrown -at- MKS -dot- COM>
Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 12:15:25 -0400

Using special characters to denote variables is a practice made
necessary by the limitations of ASCII. If you still distribute text-only
documentation, such as a readme.txt, then you may still have to cling to
this archaic habit.

But in the age of bolding, italics, and a plethora of fonts, the utility
of special characters is outweighed by the chance that they may be
misinterpreted.

Out of every 10 API documentation sets I see, I'd say that 8 use italics
to indicate variables.

--
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Opinions? I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention."
Peter Brown, Technical Writer (pbrown -at- mks -dot- com)
Mortice Kern Systems Inc. (http://www.mks.com)

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