Re: Reassuring language

["Bergen, Jane" <janeb -at- ANSWERSOFT -dot- COM>]

Suzette is correct: they are very condescending. Our users are not all
idiots and they are not going to be "reassured" or comforted by silly
words like "simply" -- and how do you "'simply' click" anyway? I also
know if that I had used anything like this in any of the tech writing
courses I've taken, it would have earned (and deserved) an "F" grade.

Jane Bergen
Jane Bergen, Technical Writer
AnswerSoft, Inc.
Richardson, TX  (972)997-8355

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Suzette Seveny [mailto:sseveny -at- PETVALU -dot- COM]
>
> My rule is to never use these types of words.  They are
> condescending to
> the end user (especially if he/she finds the procedure(s)
> difficult).  If
> they were so easy, why do they need a user's guide or online
> help?  Bottom
> line - not at all reassuring, not helpful, and more dangerous
> than fluff.
>
> Suzette
>
> On Monday, June 22, 1998 2:02 PM, John David Hickey
> [SMTP:jdavid -at- farabi -dot- com] wrote:
>
> > 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?