SynonymsIncluding synonyms can be one of the most effective ways to improve the usability of an index. Synonyms assist users to navigate easily to the information they are looking for using their own terminology.In an index you use the terms that appear in the text of the document. But, the user may employ different words for the same concepts. This situation can happen when a user is familiar with another environment, for example when an experienced Microsoft Windows user is learning about Linux. The user may also be familiar with common terms while the document may use scientific or other official terminology. Different industries, organizations or product groups can also develop their own specialized vocabularies. You can instruct the user on the terminology used in the document by doing a "See" cross-reference from the synonym to the term used in the text, for example: media. See Physical layer
You can also facilitate quick access by double-posting all the index information under each of the synonyms, for example: Mouseover command
In online indexes that can be searched electronically, you can insert "hidden" codes so that when you search for a synonym, the proper index term appears. When the user searches for "freeware" in the following example, the user will see the entry for "public-domain software": public-domain software {freeware} You can help your indexer to identify possible synonyms. User and task analysis, done as part of the systems design, will reveal the vocabulary employed by the users. You can ask training, engineering, marketing and other staff to review the main entries in an index and suggest possible synonyms. Ensuring consistent, user-friendly terminology across the user interface, the written text and the index will go along way to improving usability and to attaining the desired business benefits. Fred Brown
April,
2001
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