Describe a problem so it can be fixed
Tell somebody what is wrong in three sentences they can act on.
A helper needs three things: what you were doing, what you expected, and what happened instead.
“It is broken” gives nobody a place to start. The words on the screen give them everything.
Key points
- A useful description says what you did, what you expected, and what happened
- The exact words on the screen matter more than anything else
What to remember
- The words on the screen are the useful part.
- What you did, what you expected, what happened.
Try this
Next time something goes wrong, write those three lines down before you ask anybody.
Practice: Describe a problem so it can be fixed. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.