Minimalism and quick reference documentation

Two forms of quick reference (QR) documentation discussed are syntax summaries and quick reference guides. Syntax summaries typically list tasks or commands in alphabetical order, often on a single sheet or card (for example, the action to bold text is press SHIFT+B). Quick reference guides contain more extended procedures and often come in booklets (for example, giving a four step procedure to set up columns in a document). QR documentation is usually regraded more as a reference than a learning tool more for memory jogging than for initial learning. However, the author looks at the learning function and analyses it using the minimalist model developed by J.M. Carroll (1990)