Anthropomorphic Phrases

Subject: Anthropomorphic Phrases
From: "Misti Tucker USAET(UTC -04:00)" <mtucker2 -at- E-MAIL -dot- COM>
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 13:47:46 EDT

Matthew Long wrote:
> Recently I was explaining how to use wild card characters when conducting
> a search in a database when I wrote "When you enter a word or phrase in
> one of the fields, the system will search for exact matches." What is
> wrong with this phrase. It sort of gives the system a personality then,
> but what makes that a bad thing?

It sounds fine to me, but then I've never heard the rule abnot anthropo-
morphizing in technical doc. I do it all the time since my target audience
tends to be young folks just out of high school or "clerical" workers who
may or may not be techno-savy. It seems to work for them...

Misti Tucker
Technical Communication mta -at- cyberspace -dot- org (h)
& Help System Design mtucker2 -at- e-mail -dot- com (w)

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