Instruction manuals familiarize the user with the product and guide the user through a series of steps that lead to completing a task. Writing and designing the manual well is essential because poor instructions can cause miscommunication, delays, or be directly responsible for an injury, resulting in damage claims and lawsuits.

Let’s look at the components of this instruction manual for a chainsaw by Ryobi.

On the first page, we learn three languages are included, and a table of contents tells us where we can find what is inside the manual. At the bottom of the page, a warning means users must read the manual carefully to avoid getting injured. Readers often skip the instructions, so we must convince them to. The above components make a great first page for a manual because it is accessible and tells the reader to focus because of the product’s danger, convincing them to stay. Although I would hope anyone buying a chainsaw intends to read the instructions, but we can never assume the readers knowledge.

The following six pages are safety warnings, a necessary inclusion in instruction manuals. Because there is so much text on these pages, we can see the importance of using bold text type, headers, and bullet points to separate the information. Using these will help make the text less monogamous and straining to the eye; it will also draw the readers’ look to the most critical parts of the text and make information easier to find. Each page in the manual has a large, black header containing what is on that page. Then, there are sections made clear with bold, all-caps text; the information following these is not bold, smaller, and sometimes divided into bullet points; these show that it is the body information. The other components tell the reader what they are reading.

This manual contains a key of symbols used throughout the manual and a glossary of terms; these are great inclusions to the manual’s design because it makes it more accessible for everyone in case some readers do not understand the language in the text. I like that this comes before the instructions because readers won’t be confused throughout the directions. Many images are used throughout to show the separate parts of the chainsaw. This helps users understand how to assemble, use, and care for their product. While the Ryobi manual is extensive, it is crucial to be thorough and specific when writing instructions, especially for a chainsaw. Instructions should be clear commands written in plain language to accommodate all users. Images help the manual by breaking up text and being a visual depiction of the instructions.

Considering this manuals length, what do you think would make people more interested in reading it?