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

[Les Smalley]

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