I've just been searching for a how-to to give my mother. I am resisting the temptation to scream at my computer and vent my frustration in some entirely non-constructive manner.

Let's compare how-tos to cookery. Most of my recipe books will say 'beat the eggs' as opposed to going into a ridiculous amount of detail on how to beat eggs every time beaten eggs are called for, instead having a 'basic techniques' section in the front where the beating of eggs is explained in great detail.