A technical writer is designing a manual to be used by technicians repairing stereo systems. Repair technicians will be seated at workbenches with bright lighting overhead. They will need both hands to work on the equipment while reading manual instructions. Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate design decision?
A) to use perfect binding
B) to choose a size of 6 x 9 inches for the manual
C) to print on nonglare, tinted paper
D) to make the manual as concise as possible

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using perfect binding, which is a binding method that glues the spine of the manual, may result in the manual not staying open or laying flat on the technician's workbench. A spiral binding or bookbinding with a lay-flat feature would be a better option in this scenario. Therefore, option A would not be an appropriate design decision. The other options (B, C, and D) are all suitable for the given scenario. Choosing a size of 6 x 9 inches would make the manual compact and easy to handle. Using non-glare, tinted paper would make it easier for the technician to read the manual in bright lighting conditions without glare or eye strain. Making the manual as concise as possible would make it easier for the technician to quickly find the information they need without being overwhelmed with unnecessary information.

A Technical Writer Is Designing a Manual to Be Used