Re: WG: Newbie question - GUI terminology

["Alex Masycheff" <alexm -at- fototagger -dot- com>]

Microsoft Manual of Style recommends to use "appear" as an intransitive verb. For example: "If you try to quit the program without saving the file, a message appears."

So I don't think using "appear" would be a problem.

My 2 cents.

Alex



----- Original Message ----- 
  From: James Barrow 
  To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
  Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 3:03 PM
  Subject: RE: WG: Newbie question - GUI terminology


  >Dick Margulis said:
  >>Christine Hüttmann wrote:

  >>We are currently translating an online Help into English and have a couple
  >>of questions. Any help from experienced writers is much appreciated.
  > 
  >>1) Does a dialogue box, window or message box appear or open?

  >It's "dialog," not "dialogue box" (by general convention), and I prefer 
  >"open" for at least windows and dialogs, although some people prefer 
  >"appear." I'm not sure what the popularity breakdown is on message boxes 
  >(called that in internal development documents but just called messages 
  >in end user doc). I tend to use "pops up" for a message box, but I may 
  >not be speaking for a majority on that one.

  When I first began tech writing, a senior tech writer edited some of my
  material and, wherever I used "appear", he crossed that out and added
  "NEVER!".  I still don't understand what the major faux pas was on that one.
  Nowadays I use "open" when print/open/search windows appear.  Small
  confirmation message, etc. are called pop-ups.



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