Use of "please" in technical documentation and messages on screen

[Alan Litchfield]

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 is not relevant that it may not be translatable into other  
languages. Users will be reading it in English, the language it is  
written in.

Alan

On 30/06/2009, at 1:26 AM, Thomas Scalise wrote:

> 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 voice statements are best.  
> Words
> like carefully, slowly, etc., are also invitations to interpretation  
> by
> the reader, which may not be the result you want.
>
> HTH.
>
> Tom
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andersen, Verner Engell VEA [mailto:verner.andersen at radiometer.dk 
> ]
>
> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 4:31 AM
> To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
> Subject: OT: Use of "please" in technical documentation and messages  
> on
> screen
>
> 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
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Radiometer Medical ApS
> Akandevej 21
> 2700 Bronshoj
> Denmark
> Phone: +45 38 27 38 27
> CVR: 27 50 91 85
>
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-- 
Alan Litchfield MBus (Hons), MNZCS
AlphaByte
PO Box 1941, Auckland
http://www.alphabyte.co.nz