help: Simplify direct messages documentation.

Remove unnecessary emphasis on DMs vs. group DMs.

help/direct-messages.md

@@ -1,80 +1,29 @@
 # Direct messages
 
-**Direct messages (DMs)** are one-on-one conversations between you and
+**Direct messages (DMs)** are conversations with other users that happen outside
-another user. **Group direct messages (group DMs)** are small
+of a [stream](/help/streams-and-topics). DMs work well for one-off messages,
-discussions with a group of users.
+usually with just one or two others.
 
-DMs and group DMs work well for one-off conversations. If you find yourself
+If you find yourself frequently conversing with the same person or group, it
-frequently conversing with the same person or the same group of people, we
+often works better to [create a private stream](/help/create-a-stream) for your
-highly recommend [creating a private stream](/help/create-a-stream) for your
+conversations. This lets you organize your discussion into topics, and add or
-conversations instead.
+remove participants as needed.
-
-Note that group DMs are not the same as [user groups](/help/user-groups) or
-private streams. DMs and group DMs do not have [topics](/help/streams-and-topics)
-and do not appear in your list of streams.
 
 ## Send a DM
 
-{start_tabs}
-
-{tab|desktop-web}
-
-1. Click the **New direct message** button at the bottom of the app, or the
-   **Start new conversation** button if you are in a direct message view.
-
-1. Start typing the name of the person you want to message, and
-   select their name from the list of suggestions.
-
-{!compose-and-send-message.md!}
-
-!!! keyboard_tip ""
-
-    You can also use the <kbd>X</kbd> keyboard shortcut to start a new direct
-    message conversation.
-
-!!! tip ""
-
-      You can also click on any user in the right sidebar to start composing
-      a direct message to them. Or open their **user card** by clicking on
-      their profile picture or name, and select **Send direct message**.
-
-{tab|mobile}
-
-1. Tap the **Direct messages**
-   ( <img src="/static/images/help/mobile-dm-tab-icon.svg" alt="direct messages" class="help-center-icon"/> )
-   tab at the bottom of the app.
-
-1. Tap the **New DM** button at the top of the app.
-
-1. Start typing the name of the person you want to message, and
-   select their name from the list of suggestions.
-
-1. Compose your message, and tap the **send**
-   (<img src="/static/images/help/mobile-send-circle-icon.svg" alt="send" class="help-center-icon"/>)
-   button in the bottom right corner of the app.
-
-!!! tip ""
-
-    You can also tap on a user's profile picture or name, and tap the
-    **Send direct message** button at the bottom of the app.
-
-{end_tabs}
-
-## Send a group DM
-
 {!send-group-dm.md!}
 
-## Access a DM or group DM
+## Access a DM
 
-If using Zulip in a browser or desktop, there are several ways to access an existing DM or group DM.
+If using Zulip in a browser or desktop, there are several ways to access an existing DM conversation.
 
 * Click on **Direct messages** near the top of the left sidebar to access
-  recent conversations.
+  recent DM conversations.
 
 * Click on any user in the right sidebar.
 
 * Start typing a user's name in the [search](/help/search-for-messages) bar.
-  You'll be able to select DMs or group DMs with that user.
+  You'll be able to select DMs with that user.
 
 * Open the compose box, and enter a list of users on the **To:**
   line. Type <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>.</kbd> to open that conversation.

help/include/send-group-dm.md

@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 
 !!! tip ""
 
-    You can switch from composing a stream message to composing a direct
+    You can also click on any user in the right sidebar to start composing
-    message by selecting **Direct message** from the dropdown in the upper left
+    a direct message to them. Or open their **user card** by clicking on
-    of the compose box.
+    their profile picture or name, and select **Send direct message**.
 
 {tab|mobile}
 
@@ -28,18 +28,24 @@
    ( <img src="/static/images/help/mobile-dm-tab-icon.svg" alt="direct messages" class="help-center-icon"/> )
    tab at the bottom of the app.
 
-1. Tap the **New group DM** button at the top of the app.
+1. Tap the **New DM** button at the top of the app to message one person, or
+   **New group DM** to message any number of people.
 
 1. Start typing the name of the person you want to message, and
-   select their name from the list of suggestions. You can continue
+   select their name from the list of suggestions.
-   adding as many message recipients as you like.
 
-1. Approve by tapping the **checkmark**
+1. *(if sending a group DM)* Continue adding as many message recipients as you
-   (<img src="/static/images/help/mobile-check-circle-icon.svg" alt="checkmark" class="help-center-icon"/>)
+   like. Approve by tapping the **checkmark** (<img
-   button in the bottom right corner of the app.
+   src="/static/images/help/mobile-check-circle-icon.svg" alt="checkmark"
+   class="help-center-icon"/>) button in the bottom right corner of the app.
 
 1. Compose your message, and tap the **send**
    (<img src="/static/images/help/mobile-send-circle-icon.svg" alt="send" class="help-center-icon"/>)
    button in the bottom right corner of the app.
 
+!!! tip ""
+
+    You can also tap on a user's profile picture or name, and tap the
+    **Send direct message** button at the bottom of the app.
+
 {end_tabs}