There is no absolute distinction between a set of instructions and a manual. Typically, the two share a main purpose: to explain how to carry out a task safely, effectively, and efficiently. Both kinds of documents can include safety information. For example, a set of instructions on how to use an extension ladder explains how to avoid power lines and how to avoid falling off the ladder. A manual for a laptop explains how to avoid electrocution when you open the case. However, a set of instructions (which can range from 1 to 20 or more pages) is typically shorter than a manual and more limited in its subject. Obviously, using a laptop requires knowing about many more topics than does using a ladder.
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A manual likely also includes some sections not found in a set of instructions. For instance, it typically has a title page. The main difference between the two is that a manual has more-elaborate front matter and back matter:
For more about typography, see “Designing Print Documents” in Ch. 7.
Front matter. The introduction, sometimes called a preface, often contains an overview of the contents, frequently in the form of a table, which explains the main contents of each section and chapter. It also contains a conventions section, which explains the typography of the manual. For instance, italics are used for the titles of books, boldface for keyboard keys, and so forth. It also might include a where to get help section, referring readers to other sources of information, such as the company’s website and customer-support center. And it might contain a section listing the trademarks of the company’s own products and those of other companies.
Back matter. Manuals typically include a set of specifications of the device or system, a list of relevant government safety regulations and industry standards that the device or system supports, tips on maintenance and servicing the device, a copyright page listing bibliographic information about the manual, and an index. Many manuals also include glossaries.