Re: Numbered list vs bulleted list

["Keith, Robin" <Robin -dot- Keith -at- MIRAGE -dot- BROOKS -dot- AF -dot- MIL>]

I work on a government contract and we create large volumes of
documentation.  In order to help the reader, we apply the standards of
using numbers for sequentially numbered steps and bullets for the
non-sequential steps.

I guess we must be a Iittle out of date according to Jane though, since
our little "sewing circle" still has a use for those "little hand
bullets" and other "geewhiz thing(s)".  In our documentation we still
use a symbol bullet (hand, notepad...), consistently within the
document, whenever we need to draw the readers attention to a note of
importance.  It seems to slow the reader, and (hopefully) they pay more
attention to these points rather than losing them in the rest of the
text/steps/bullets.

I agree with the concept of moderation.  We don't overkill our customers
with excessive use of fonts, graphics ...etc.  I do, however, like being
able to highlight a dry document with the proper use of graphics, style,
and bullets, as appropriate.  I think used properly, style can be an
asset.

"Aunt" Robin

>----------
>From:  Bergen, Jane[SMTP:janeb -at- ANSWERSOFT -dot- COM]
>Sent:  Wednesday, November 19, 1997 8:53 AM
>Subject:       Re: Numbered list vs bulleted list
>
>Don,
>
>Always use a NUMBERED lists for two or more steps in a procedure that
>must be followed sequentially (example: installation procedures).
>
>Always use BULLETED lists for groups of items for which there is no
>sequence (example: list of hardware requirements) or for a single
>procedure (I prefer the sideways arrow or triangle for this one).
>
>The little hand bullets went out with the dot-matrix printers and Aunt
>Tillie's efforts at her sewing circle's newsletters. I'm not sure which
>software docs your programmer has been looking at, but the nicer, newer
>docs generally don't have a lot of clutter. When I teach the basics
>(using Styles, bulleted lists, inserting graphics, etc.) of Word to
>programmers, they tend to want three or four (at least) font styles,
>every little bullet/symbol/geewhiz thing they can find, and they love
>smacking a graphic in the middle of the page and wrapping text on both
>sides. Sigh..... go figure!!! Like climbing Mt. Everest, I suppose
>"....because it's there"!
>
>The distinction between numbered (for sequential) and bulleted (for
>non-sequential) is pretty standard and you'll find this addressed in
>most DTP and technical writing texts.
>
>Hope that helps,
>
>Jane
>Jane Bergen, Technical Writer,
>AnswerSoft, Inc.     Richardson, TX
>(972) 997-8355
>janeb -at- answersoft -dot- com
>
>On Wednesday, November 19, 1997 8:34 AM, Don Timmerman
>[SMTP:timmerma -at- IPDLINK -dot- IPD -dot- ANL -dot- GOV] wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I've just returned from the archive with very little success.  Here's
>> the scenario.
>>
>> The author (programmer) wrote a software installation and user guide
>> for a DOS program (not a commercial software).  Action steps are in
>> bullet lists; each bullet has been replaced with a graphic pointing
>> hand (side view).
>>
>> The editor had to leave the project for several days (business trip)
>> and I am filling in because of the project deadline.  I contend that
>> any list of action steps be numbered if those steps must be performed
>> sequentially.  The DOE Standard Writer's Guide for Technical
>> Procedures states the following, "Action step numbering identifies
>> individual action steps and their sequence."
>>
>> The editor contends that this item is not an issue.  The bullet list
>> is fine because that method is used in many software docs.  What say
>> you?  Also, have I answered my own question?
>
>


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