Problem words
This section lists words that are frequently misused. Avoid using the words marked with the hazard icon 
.
accelerator key
Use keyboard shortcut.
Access, as a verb, is usually too general. Use a more specific word.
Problem: Access the application.
Example: Start the application.
Affect is generally used as a verb.
Example: Changing weather affects my sinuses.
See effect.
Avoid using allow when referring to software features.
Problem: The software allows you to adjust the color of a photo.
Example: Using the software, you can adjust the color of a photo.
Use between when describing two things.
Example: I couldn't decide between this and that.
Use among when describing three or more things.
Example: I couldn't decide among all these choices.
Use is displayed instead of appears.
Use appendixes instead of appendices.
One word, no hyphen. Initial cap.
Use display or open instead of bring up.
Definition: A mechanism on a pointing device, such as a mouse, that users use to perform actions. A graphical device on the interface that lets the user perform an action with one click. See also radio button.
Use submenu.
Two words. No hyphen.
Definition: A square, button-like box associated with a user-selectable option. When selected, the box may be filled, checked, contain an "x" or appear pushed in. Check boxes may be grouped together in a box with a title. More than one check box can be checked.
Example: Check the Clear All Change Bars check box.
Avoid using choose. Select is usually more explicit.
Use click to describe mouse actions only. Use select to describe GUI actions.
Example: Click the right mouse button to display the pop-up menu.
Use has instead of consists of.
Criterion is singular; criteria are plural.
The word data is singular.
Example: Data is stored on tape.
One word. No space, no hyphen.
Two words. No hyphen.
There is no desire in technical documentation. Use want instead of desire.
The background on the screen where all windows and icons are displayed.
A list of choices displayed when the user clicks the right mouse button with the mouse pointer positioned on the desktop.
Hyphenate double-click when used as a verb.
Example: Double-click the left mouse button.
Hyphenate. Drop-down may be omitted if there are no plain list boxes on the window.
Definition: A list box displayed on the GUI as a rectangle with an activation button on the right side. When users select this button, a list is displayed. After users select an item from the list, the list box collapses to a rectangle that displays the selection.
Use for example instead of e.g.
Effect is generally used as a noun.
Example: One effect of changing weather is aching sinuses.
See affect.
Use email, no hyphen, no capital letter.
Two words. No hyphen unless used as an adjective.
See also superuser.
Use type for text that the user inputs.
Example: Type the name on the command line.
Use and so on or and the like instead of etc.
Use fewer when referring to specific numbers and measurements, and use less when referring to general amounts.
Examples:
If a customer orders fewer than 10 CDs but more than five, the customer receives a free CD. NOT: If a customer orders less than 10 CDs ...
It takes less time to fill orders when your company uses our application.
A part of the interface where users can type information to add data to or search a database.
One word.
Gray is American English; grey is British. Use gray.
One word as an adjective; two words as a noun.
One word.
Use press or select instead of hit. Use press for keyboard actions and select for GUI operations.
Problem: Hit the Enter key.
Examples: Press Enter.
Select the File menu, then Open.
Two words.
Definition: A graphical representation of an object that users can select and open, such as a minimized application window.
Use ID as the abbreviation for identification.
Use that is instead of i.e.
Do not use impact as a verb. Use affect instead.
Use indexes instead of indices.
Use open or start instead of invoke.
Example: Start the screen saver by pressing Esc.
Do not use is designed to.
Problem: The software is designed to sort tables.
Example: The software sorts tables.
A key or sequence of keys used to perform actions like displaying menus or dismissing windows.
Use labeled and labeling.
Avoid using launch. Use start or open when appropriate.
Problem: Launch the application.
Example: Start the application.
Use left.
See fewer vs. less.
Two words. List is also acceptable.
Definition: A box containing a list of items users can select.
See also drop-down list box.
Do not use main window.
Definition: The button that is in the top right corner of the window and is to the right of the minimize button. It expands a window to its maximum size.
May implies permission. Use can when appropriate.
Use menus, not menu bar.
Definition: A list from which the user can select choices to execute associated commands.
Do not use menu bar.
Problem: Select File from the menu bar and choose Open.
Example: Select the File menu, then Open.
Use menu choice for items listed on menus, not menu pick or menu option.
Use choice for things on menus.
Definition: The button that is in the top right corner of the window and is to the left of the maximize button. It reduces a window to an icon.
Use modeled and modeling.
No hyphen. See The Chicago Manual of Style for exceptions.
Example: multimedia, multitasking
Use online, no hyphen.
Use onscreen, no hyphen.
An area of the window used to group window items by function. Panes are often enclosed by a titled box or shading that makes the pane appear raised.
Parenthesis is singular; parentheses is plural. Usually used in plural form.
Use choice for things on menus.
Avoid in user documentation and in training materials. Use display, or rewrite the sentence.
Use of populate in system documentation is acceptable.
No hyphen. See The Chicago Manual of Style for exceptions.
A menu that is displayed when the user right-clicks on a designated part of the interface, such as the desktop menu.
No hyphen. See The Chicago Manual of Style for exceptions.
Example: predefined
press (verb)
Use press for keyboard actions. Use select for GUI actions.
Example: Press Enter to continue.
Example: Select the Apply button.
Do not use pull-down menu, just menu. (All menus are pull-down menus--unless they're pop-up menus.) Use drop-down for lists.
Definition: A round button assigned to a user-selectable option. Only one button in a group of radio buttons can be selected. Radio buttons may be grouped together by type. If they are displayed in a box with a title, the box should not be called a pane.
Example: On the ChangeAddress window, select one of the Requested By radio buttons.
Problem: From the Requested By pane, select the Customer radio button.
Example: Select the Requested By Customer radio button.
No hyphen, unless the word is confusing without it.
One word. No hyphen.
Use right.
As a noun, use two words. Hyphenate when using as an adjective.
Use screen only to describe the panel on the front of the monitor. Always use window to describe a part of the GUI.
Two words.
Do not use.
Use for GUI actions. Use press for keyboard actions. Use click only to describe using a mouse button.
Example: Select the Apply button.
Example: Press Enter to continue.
Use keyboard shortcut.
Do not use simple or simply to describe a feature or step.
Use click instead of single-click.
Use to describe the GUI object that the user slides back and forth to adjust a numeric value.
Use space bar to refer to the space bar on the keyboard.
Hyphenated.
Noun form is one word: "The configuration file is read at startup."
Adjectival form is hyphenated: "The names are in the start-up file."
Note that the verb form should be start, not start up.
status lineDefinition: An area of the window that displays system messages. The status line may be part of a toolbar or it may stand alone.
If there are buttons on either side of the status line, only the area where messages are displayed is called a status line. The buttons and status line together are called a toolbar.
A menu that you select from another menu. The menu choice with an arrow beside it is the submenu name.
Example: From the Group menu, select the List submenu, then By Skills.
A choice you select from a submenu.
Example: From the Group menu, select the List submenu, then By Skills.
One word. See also end user.
Definition: A part of the interface that looks like the name area on a file folder. It is used to group window items by function. When the user selects a tab, it is displayed in front of all other tabs.
Do not use as gender-neutral singular. Instead, rewrite the sentence so that it doesn't require a pronoun, or make it plural. See also gender.
Problem: When the user looks at their screen, they crash the system.
Example: Look at your screen to crash the system.
Example: When users look at their screens, they crash the system.
One word.
Definition: Toolbars have one or more buttons and may include other window items such as status lines and fields.
typeUse type instead of enter.
Example: Type your name to start the program.
Always put periods in the abbreviation for United States.
Use use instead of utilize.
Two words. No caps. If interface shows term as one word, use one word.
Two words.
All lowercase.
Definition: This button, in the upper left corner of most windows, displays a list of window control choices
Use want instead of wish.
One word. No hyphen.
One word. No hyphen.