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Subject:Reassuring language From:John David Hickey <jdavid -at- FARABI -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 22 Jun 1998 14:01:52 -0400
Greetings!
My turn! My turn to ask a question! Teeheee... <maniacal laughter>
I'm updating a user's guide and online help that another writer created.
This other writer peppered his procedures with reassuring words like
"simply" and "easily" ("Simply click here" or "You can easily do this"). I
find these words are extraneous and do nothing to reassure the reader. If
anything, they would make me nervous ("Now don't worry Mr. Hickey. This
simple procedure won't hurt a bit... <yank>").
My question is, do these reassuring words help the user at all or they just
fluff?
Be seeing you,
Dave
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John David Hickey -- Technical Writer -- jdavid -at- farabi -dot- com
No trees weres harmed in writing this email.
My messages are made from elephant tusks and dolphin meat.
Don't confuse my opinions with my employer's opinions.
Each exists in blissful ignorance of the other.
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