I am wondering whether we use "user" or "users" in a technical document; specifically a user guide or specification document in those sentences like " with this feature user can issue . ...." or " this feature helps user ...."? My work is checking and editing technical documents, it feels like both of them are correct but which one is standard?
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2 Answers
Both examples are wrong. It should be "with this feature, the user can" or "with this feature, users can" or "this feature helps the user" or "this feature helps users" I recommend using "users".
I often see "users" being prefered over "user" just to prevent having to use "he/she" as the plural requires the gender independent "they".
"Users can use the radio button should they wish to..."
"The user can use the radio button should he/she wish to..."
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Not so. "The user can use the radio button should they wish to" is available. Feb 24, 2015 at 10:17
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@edmin-ashworth, can you explain a bit more why you can use "they" for a singular "user"? Feb 24, 2015 at 10:26
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Yes, but why don't you look up 'singular they' yourself in a search here and/or on Google. [Suggestion, so I'm not including a '?'] Is 'edmin' a portmanteau? Feb 24, 2015 at 10:34