ABSTRACT
Just as attractive packaging makes a product more likely to be purchased, an attractive, accessible format will make a manual more likely to be read. Decisions about page design, including typeface size, font, and style, amount of white space, and layout of text and graphics can make a manual seem inviting or off-putting and may determine whether the manual is used or ignored. Once the user begins to read, other aspects come to the fore, such as the heading structure, which (if well done) serves as a guide to the manual’s organization and content. Text that is clearly and correctly written and that is accessible both to first-time users and seasoned professionals will encourage further reading. Making sure that the writing is concise and direct as well as accurate and precise makes the manual a useful ongoing reference. Similarly, thoughtful decisions about the physical aspects of the manual, such as size, paper quality, binding and cover, that take into account the conditions of manual use can help to make the manual the preferred source for information about the product’s operation and care.
