I prefer active voice as well.? An option that avoids please is to give the user an indication of how long a wait is expected, especially if it is a lengthy operation:
"We are updating the result list, this will take XX minutes..." -- Les Smalley --- On Fri, 6/26/09, Mike Wickham <info at mikewickham.com> wrote: I don't know about the rules of technical documentation, but "please wait" sounds much better than just a command to wait. More importantly, I love that you didn't use passive voice. You used "updating the result list" instead of the typical, "the result list is being updated." Bravo! Mike Wickham ----- Original Message ----- > Hi > Once I learned that you shouln't use the word "please" in technical > documentation - that it was like asking the reader to do you favor. > > Does this still hold true? Is it OK to have this message displayed on > the screen of our user interface? > > "We are updating the result list, please wait" > > Best regards, > > Verner
