software control terms

Tue Sep 11 11:49:20 MDT 2007

FWIW - I use "select" as my "go-to" verb whenever an action can be
achieved by multiple methods (e.g mouse-click, tab-n-enter or keyboard
shortcut). The word "select" is generic enough to cover them all yet
leaves nothing to "read into." I have found it is especiialy useful when
writing for non-technical audiences as well as newcomers to a
application or procedure. If there is a specific or preferred method of
selection, then I go into detail using more action specific terms. I've
found that verbs like "activate" are often misused to convey choosing a
process option when what is meant is to initiate (there's another one) a
process or action as in Christine's example. The word "choose" (in my
view) conveys the same idea but is too passive. One can choose an option
but not take any action regarding it - IMHO.

Blessings,

Darren

****************************************

Darren J. Butler

Sr. Technical Writer-Editor, FrameTemplate Wrangler, Mil-Spec Pharisee

Integrated Data for Maintenance

NG Corp

-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+darren.butler.ctr=robins.af.mil at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+darren.butler.ctr=robins.af.mil at lists.techwr-l.
com] On Behalf Of Susan W Gallagher
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 11:41 AM
To: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: Re: software control terms

I have always had a problem saying "select" for anything but a menu or
list

items. My reasoning is that a check box, for example, can be selected

without being checked. Picture the laptop user, or the fast
touch-typist,

who wants to navigate a dialog box without using the mouse. They tab
through

the fields until the appropriate check box item is ***selected*** (i.e.,
has

focus), then press the space bar to check or uncheck the box. Saying

"select" for a check box just isn't accurate, and I don't care what the
good

folks at MS think.

My two cents. Everyone else's mileage is sure to vary. <g>

-Sue Gallagher

On 9/10/07, Combs, Richard <richard.combs at polycom.com> wrote:

> 

> Christine Leisgen

> 

> > I now realized that at least now, Microsoft uses a more "wordy"

> > explanation of software terms, e. g. "activate the check-box

> > for options x". I see that there is the advantage that it is

> > clearer for the user where to look for the option (it is a

> > check box, not a drop-down list).

> 

> Where did you see "activate the check-box"? MMOS has always said that

> you _select_ and _clear_ check boxes (no hyphen). And here's what my

> copy says about identifying interface elements:

> 

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