A correspondent writes to ask for the background to an item he
heard on a radio station recently about the language of
instruction manuals. He evidently tuned in half way through and
heard me going on about it, but wasn't clear why. It was in
relation to a survey carried out for a UK firm called The
TechGuys, who make their living by helping people who have
trouble understanding the instruction leaflet or manual that
comes with newly purchased equipment. The survey showed that,
nationally, 67% of people say they don't get the full use out of
their technical devices because the manual is too difficult to
understand. Over a third, 34%, avoid the manual altogether,
preferring trial and error instead. A remarkable 20% admit to
throwing the manual across the room. And an even more remarkable
8% have taken their frustration out on the piece of equipment
they were trying to set up. This is 'read rage', indeed. Manuals
for mobile phones evidently top the list, closely followed by
those for cameras, washing machines,