Why are instruction manuals so difficult to understand and follow?
by 
keithold thanks all baggers
ANSWERS: 11
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Because you're reading the French side. Mr. keithold. Turn it over for English and you'll do just fine.
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It's so they can sell instruction manuals to help you read the instruction manual, or force you to call the premium rate help line which puts you through to Irakistan or somewhere where someone with no clue as to what the product even is will try to help you
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Because they're written by the people who made the product and have a full understanding of every component, really. That's the best reason I can think of. I think that manufacturers often forget that not everyone knows the proper names of certain components, and therefore are less likely to be able to follow what they're saying to the letter. :)
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Because usually they're written by people who already know how to operate the thing in question. They're writing it from their perspective, an expert perspective. They fail to recognize that one small process not mentioned could make the difference.
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I was the head of a team that built a new computer system and had to supervise writing the user manual!! We not only had a test system, we had a test manual. The experts write the instructions. They understand the system/device, etc. very well. But they are writing for a lot of folks who are novices and don't know anything of the theory and basics. Therefore, they are hard to understand by some and there are help calls to get people started.
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Because they're written so the Chinese who read backwards can read them. I really hate that.
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Yes, I can't stand instruction manuals! Even when they have "diagrams" to show you the "easy" steps, they still give me headaches. :(
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Because they are written by the techies who believe that everyone should think like they do. : )
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Because they're usually written in an Asian language, which is then translated by a computer program such as Babelfish.
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Here's an example: Hubby tells me how easy it is to use a computer. "click on this, scroll to that, mover your cursor here and there". My response: "Where is the on switch?" You know the answer, don't you? "Hold down the bar that is labeled "power".So, I do....on...off "Oh, let go now, let's try again"
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Most of what we buy are made in other countries where English is a second language. Although the spelling is correct, the grammar and sentence structure is awkward. Some instructions were originally in the factory location's native language, then translated. Some words and phrases do not translate well. English has some words that have no translation in other languages, and the other languages have words that cannot be translated to English, or at least, not very well.
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