You were probably sent this link because your question wasn’t phrased clearly enough. Please read the text carefully and rewrite your question.

Many people today are used to real-time online chats, have never written paper letters, and therefore don’t know (or don’t realize) how to ask technical questions effectively — whether on forums, Q&A sites, or by email — in a way that gets helpful answers.

Imagine a program you’re using isn’t working properly, and you want to report the issue on a forum or directly to the developer.

Write your message so the other person can understand everything right away, without having to ask for extra details:

  1. Start with a short statement of the problem.
    Clearly describe what function isn’t working, or what you’re unable to do.

  2. Describe the problem in detail.

    • List the exact steps that lead to the problem.
    • Explain what result you get versus what you expect to happen.
    • Include your hardware details and software versions.
    • Attach screenshots or a short video if possible.

    More detail is almost always better than leaving something out.

  3. Explain what you’ve already tried.
    People usually expect that you’ve made some effort to fix the problem before asking.

    • If something worked before but stopped after an update, mention it.
    • If nonstandard settings affect the issue, include them.
    • If you truly don’t know where to start, say so honestly — it’s better than seeming careless or lazy.

  4. Send the message and wait for a reply.
    Not everyone is online all the time. Some have families, some work three jobs or go on a week-long hunting trip in the forest. The person may not see your message for days, even weeks.
    The last thing they want to find is a vague, single-sentence message. That only increases the chance of being ignored — or receiving a curt reply.
    Some problems take time and thought to answer thoroughly — be patient.

Remember: the more precise and complete your question is, the more likely you’ll receive a useful, clear and understandable response. Even small details can turn out to be essential. Don’t make the other person drag information out of you; many professionals will simply ignore incomplete questions.

Respect your audience — and they will respect you.