Which wire to use in tutorials, dead-soft or half-hard?

I received the following question regarding the temper of wire to use in tutorials:

"I just downloaded and started reading through some of your tutorials. In Tutorial 019, Double Hook Clasp, as well as some of the others, you refer to 16 or 18 ga. wire. Is this dead soft or half hard?"

The answer:
Most of the wire I use is dead-soft, but here is the general rule to follow: if the wire is 24, 26 or 28 ga, it's NEEDS to be dead-soft, since it becomes brittle with manipulation. If the wire is 22 or thicker, then you can use either one. I always use dead-soft, but if you have half-hard at hand, then by all means, use it too.