On the other hand, why is it that computer programs must be seen to be
terse/rude?
There is no reason why a computer generated request cannot be
perceived as, at least, courteous.
"Please wait" is not a difficult thing to understand and is better for
the user to read than a terse "wait".
Verner,
I write in Controlled English for translation. I would write: Wait while
the program updates the results.
Thus, you avoid the Please and the gerund (updating), the first of
which is unnecessary and the second of which may not be translatable in
many languages. Simple, direct, active
On the other hand, why is it that computer programs must be seen to be
terse/rude?
There is no reason why a computer generated request cannot be
perceived as, at least, courteous.
Please wait is not a difficult thing to understand and is better for
the user to read than a terse wait.
It
Verner,
I write in Controlled English for translation. I would write: Wait while
the program updates the results.
Thus, you avoid the "Please" and the gerund (updating), the first of
which is unnecessary and the second of which may not be translatable in
many languages. Simple, direct, active
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
I say this from my North American English-speaker perspective...
I prefer to take the Strunk and White approach to omit needless words.
Please is needless.
As a user, I find the use of please patronizing.
Personally, I would reword the message to say Wait while the result
list is updated.
On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 4:30 AM, Andersen, Verner Engell
VEAverner.ander...@radiometer.dk wrote:
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.
I've just opened the Windows Help and Support Center (XP), did a
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
But in order to avoid the passive voice, the UI resorts to the first person
plural, which is also discouraged in most technical writing style guides. At
best, the pronoun is unclear because it does not have a clear antecedent; at
worst, it is punning words in the mouth of the company, which
Make that ...putting words in the mouth... rather than punning.
Insufficient caffiene.
-FR
From: docu...@hotmail.com
To: i...@mikewickham.com; verner.ander...@radiometer.dk;
framers@lists.frameusers.com
Subject: RE: Use of please in technical documentation and messages on screen
Date: Fri,
I don't think that I'd write that, but it doesn't bother me at all.
Better, I think, would be a message that says Results are being
updated... Ideally with a spinning cursor or hourglass or bar graph
line to show the progress.
Art Campbell
art.campb...@gmail.com
... In my
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
For status messages such as the one you cite below, I think using please is
perfectly okay.
I also agree with omitting words that add nothing to the meaning of the
sentence; however, the use of please can convey a specific and useful tone.
It's not inappropriate for a status or feedback
I dislike the passive voice, but I dislike software anthropomorphism more. Who
is we? Software elves? The little ghosts in the machine? Sounds more like Pac
Man.
Nadine
--- On Fri, 6/26/09, Mike Wickham i...@mikewickham.com wrote:
From: Mike Wickham i...@mikewickham.com
Subject: Re: Use of
Actually, the way I would write the message avoids passive voice and omits
needless words. I would write, Updating result list. Please wait...
Mike Wickham
- Original Message -
But in order to avoid the passive voice, the UI resorts to the first person
plural, which is also
Microsoft Word would chide you for using a sentence fragment. =D
Nadine
--- On Fri, 6/26/09, Mike Wickham i...@mikewickham.com wrote:
From: Mike Wickham i...@mikewickham.com
Subject: Re: Use of please in technical documentation and messages on screen
To: Fred Ridder docu...@hotmail.com,
Mike Wickham wrote:
Actually, the way I would write the message avoids passive voice and
omits
needless words. I would write, Updating result list. Please wait...
This is how I'd do it too ... :)
Z
___
You are currently subscribed to Framers as
We've recently been reading some E.B. White books to our kids (Charlotte's Web
and The Trumpet of the Swan) and I note that White has no practical respect for
his own rules.
I avoid Please in instructional documentation. The reader knows what to
expect
-- you're telling him or her how to make
...at worst, it is punning words in the mouth of the company,...
I just love language...Kelly.
-Original Message-
From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Fred Ridder
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 8:09 AM
To:
Syed.Hosain wrote:
Mike Wickham wrote:
Actually, the way I would write the message avoids passive voice and
omits
needless words. I would write, Updating result list. Please
wait...
This is how I'd do it too ... :)
Likewise. And it's how Microsoft often does such status messages, so
Why not use the name of the software in the message instead of We. So,
for example, if you are using a software called Ender Wiggens, state:
Wait while Ender Wiggens updates the database.
This avoids unclear pronouns, passive voice, and has a clear antecedent.
-Gillian
-Original
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
I say this from my North American English-speaker perspective...
I prefer to take the Strunk and White approach to "omit needless words".
Please is needless.
As a user, I find the use of "please" patronizing.
Personally, I would reword the message to say "Wait while the result
list is
On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 4:30 AM, Andersen, Verner Engell
VEA wrote:
> 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.
I've just opened the Windows Help and Support Center (XP), did a
search for "please", and
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
I dislike the passive voice, but I dislike software anthropomorphism more. Who
is "we"? Software elves? The little ghosts in the machine? Sounds more like Pac
Man.
Nadine
--- On Fri, 6/26/09, Mike Wickham wrote:
> From: Mike Wickham
> Subject: Re: Use of "please" in technical documentation
But in order to avoid the passive voice, the UI resorts to the first person
plural, which is also discouraged in most technical writing style guides. At
best, the pronoun is unclear because it does not have a clear antecedent; at
worst, it is punning words in the mouth of the company, which
Make that "...putting words in the mouth..." rather than "punning".
Insufficient caffiene.
-FR
From: docu...@hotmail.com
To: info at mikewickham.com; verner.andersen at radiometer.dk; framers at
lists.frameusers.com
Subject: RE: Use of "please" in technical documentation and messages on
I don't think that I'd write that, but it doesn't bother me at all.
Better, I think, would be a message that says "Results are being
updated..." Ideally with a spinning cursor or hourglass or bar graph
line to show the progress.
Art Campbell
art.campbell at gmail.com
"... In my
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 wrote:
I
For status messages such as the one you cite below, I think using "please" is
perfectly okay.
I also agree with omitting words that add nothing to the meaning of the
sentence; however, the use of "please" can convey a specific and useful tone.
It's not inappropriate for a status or
Actually, the way I would write the message avoids passive voice and omits
needless words. I would write, "Updating result list. Please wait..."
Mike Wickham
- Original Message -
But in order to avoid the passive voice, the UI resorts to the first person
plural, which is also
Microsoft Word would chide you for using a sentence fragment. =D
Nadine
--- On Fri, 6/26/09, Mike Wickham wrote:
> From: Mike Wickham
> Subject: Re: Use of "please" in technical documentation and messages on screen
> To: "Fred Ridder" , "Frame Users" lists.FrameUsers.com>
> Received:
Mike Wickham wrote:
> Actually, the way I would write the message avoids passive voice and
omits
> needless words. I would write, "Updating result list. Please wait..."
This is how I'd do it too ... :)
Z
We've recently been reading some E.B. White books to our kids (Charlotte's Web
and The Trumpet of the Swan) and I note that White has no practical respect for
his own rules.
I avoid "Please" in instructional documentation. The reader knows what to
expect
-- you're telling him or her how to
"...at worst, it is punning words in the mouth of the company,..."
I just love language...Kelly.
-Original Message-
From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Fred Ridder
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 8:09 AM
To: info at
Syed.Hosain wrote:
> Mike Wickham wrote:
>
> > Actually, the way I would write the message avoids passive voice and
> omits
> > needless words. I would write, "Updating result list. Please
wait..."
>
> This is how I'd do it too ... :)
Likewise. And it's how Microsoft often does such status
Why not use the name of the software in the message instead of We. So,
for example, if you are using a software called Ender Wiggens, state:
Wait while Ender Wiggens updates the database.
This avoids unclear pronouns, passive voice, and has a clear antecedent.
-Gillian
-Original
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