According to the Apple publications style guide, Mac is the preferred term to describe Apple products, but Macintosh may also be used. When you use Mac as an adjective or as a noun, always precede it with an article or a possessive pronoun. For example, say the Mac computer or your Mac. Don’t make Mac or Macintosh plural or possessive.
Network language for the Macintosh differs from that of other personal computers. Use the terms zone, file server, and shared disk to refer to what users select to get information shared on a network. Use colons with no spaces to separate zones, file servers, shared disks, folders, and file names. File names have no extension.
Microsoft style
Macintosh HD:My Documents:Sales
CORP-16:TOMCAT:EX130D Mac Temp:Workbook1
In content for most audiences, do not use machine to mean a computer. Use computer instead. It is all right to use machine in content for a technical audience and in content about virtualization to describe both physical machines and virtual machines. See also computer, PC.
Microsoft style
Updates can enhance the security and performance of your computer.
This virtual machine image is designed to run on Windows Virtual PC on Windows 7.
You can move virtual machines from one physical server to another to balance the load among physical servers.
A signed machine certificate uniquely identifies the computer being used.
A programming language. Spell out on first mention. On subsequent mention, all right to abbreviate as MASM.
Use to refer to the document that contains the unchanging material in a merged document, such as a form letter. Do not use core document or other terms.
Do not use. Use hacker instead of malicious user to refer to a user who intentionally accesses a system with the intent to cause harm to the system or to use it in an unauthorized manner. If the intent of unauthorized access is unknown or is not malicious, use unauthorized user. See also hack, hacker; security.
Potentially unwanted software that is installed without adequate user consent. For example, viruses, worms, and trojans are malware.
If your audience might not be familiar with the term malware, include the term malicious software on first mention. See also security.
Microsoft style
The security filter helps prevent malware (malicious software) from damaging your computer.
Abbreviate as MIS. However, in general, use IS for information systems instead, unless the reference is specifically to management information systems.
In general, avoid manual as a synonym for book, guide, or other specific terms referring to product documentation. Use the title of the book itself if possible. See also titles of publications.
All right to use marquee to refer to the scrolling text feature on webpages. Do not use to refer to the feature that draws a dotted line around a selection on the screen. Use bounding outline instead. See also dotted rectangle.
This terminology, although it is standard in the information technology industry, may be insulting to some users. Its use is prohibited in at least one U.S. municipality today.
Do not use master/slave in content for a general audience. In content for a technical audience, we strongly recommend that you substitute subordinate for slave. Use master/subordinate only as an adjective. You can reference the use of slave as an adjective when it is necessary to clarify the concept by saying also known as slave server. You should continue to index master server and slave server.
We strongly discourage the use of slave as an adjective. Do not use slave as a noun. See also master/subordinate, parent/child.
Microsoft style (recommended)
Each subordinate device has a unique 7-bit or 10-bit address.
The architecture uses a standard master/subordinate design to replicate data from one server to many.
Microsoft style (but not recommended)
Each slave device has a unique 7-bit or 10-bit address.
The architecture uses a standard master/slave design to replicate data from one server to many.
Not Microsoft style
Each slave has a unique 7-bit or 10-bit address.
Use as adjectives to refer to arrangements in which one device controls another as a master/subordinate arrangement, or to the controlling device as the master server and the controlled device as the subordinate server.
Do not use as a synonym for parent/child. These terms do not mean the same thing. See also master/slave, parent/child.
For consistency in Microsoft documentation, use matrices as the plural form of matrix instead of matrixes.
Refers to the button with an open square that is located in the upper-right corner of a window when the window is not maximized. The Maximize button performs the same function as the Maximize command on a window’s shortcut menu.
Do not use Maximize box or Maximize icon. Use the phrase “Maximize button” to refer to the button, not just “Maximize.” However, it is all right to use maximize as a verb. Maximize as part of the Maximize button is always bold.
Microsoft style
Click the Maximize button.
To fill the screen, maximize the window.
Not Microsoft style
Click Maximize.
Abbreviation for megabyte. Use the abbreviation only as a measurement with numerals. Do not use the abbreviation in text without a numeral. Insert a space between MB and the numeral, or hyphenate if the measure is used as an adjective. Spell out as megabyte on first mention unless you are positive that your audience is familiar with the term. See also Chapter 11.
Microsoft style
512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or more
650-MB hard disk space
When used as a noun in measurements, add of to form a prepositional phrase.
Microsoft style
Service levels are contractually defined, and usage is metered—often per user or per hour. Customers pay only for what they use.
Follow conservative practice and use medium, not media, as a singular subject. However, media is now gaining acceptance as a singular collective noun referring to the communications industry or the journalism profession. If usage is unclear, be conservative, but be consistent. Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject (that is, the medium is and the media are), unless you are clearly using media as a collective noun in the singular form.
In the computer software industry, media has the following meanings:
Materials or substances, such as fiber optic cable or wire, through which data is transmitted.
Materials on which data is recorded or stored, such as magnetic disks, CDs, or tapes.
The mass-communications industry and its practitioners, such as publishing or broadcasting.
Journalists as a group, whether they are published in print, on the web, or on broadcast media.
Media refers to the means of communication, and should not be used to mean the content of the communication. Use media content, media file, media stream, media clip, media item, audio, video, or music instead.
Microsoft style
The media include online broadcasts as well as newspapers, magazines, radio, and television.
The media covers news of the computer industry.
The medium now used for many large computer programs is the DVD-ROM.
Do not use media as a shortened form of multimedia.
Not Microsoft style
When the consumer plays the media…
The media is downloaded…
…technology that encrypts media with a key
Spell out on first mention. On subsequent mention, only abbreviate as Mbps if used as a measurement with numerals. Spell out in other contexts.
Abbreviate as MB, not M, meg, or Mbyte. Use the abbreviation only as a measurement with numerals. Do not use the abbreviation in text without a numeral. Insert a space between MB and the numeral, or hyphenate if the measure is used as an adjective. Spell out as megabyte on first mention, unless you are positive that your audience is familiar with the term. See also Measurements and units of measure (Chapter 7).
Microsoft style
516-megabyte (MB) disk
128 MB
650-MB hard disk space
When used as a noun in measurements, add of to form a prepositional phrase.
Microsoft style
This operation can require 20 MB of disk space.
A megahertz is a unit of frequency equal to 1 million cycles per second, or hertz.
Spell out on first mention and use the abbreviation MHz in parentheses. Use the abbreviation only as a measurement with numerals. Do not use the abbreviation in text without a numeral. Insert a space between MHz and the numeral, or hyphenate if the measure is used as an adjective. See also Measurements and units of measure (Chapter 7).
Microsoft style
The processor accesses memory at 50 megahertz (MHz).
900-MHz processor
To avoid confusing users, refer to a specific kind of memory rather than use the generic term memory, which usually refers to random access memory (RAM). That is, use the more precise terms RAM, read-only memory (ROM), hard disk, and so on, as appropriate. It is all right to use memory for RAM if you are sure your audience will understand or if you have established the connection. However, in lists of hardware requirements, use RAM.
Follow the standard guidelines for using acronyms and abbreviating measurements such as kilobytes (KB) with reference to memory. Spell out RAM and ROM on first mention unless you are positive that your audience is familiar with the term. See also RAM, ROM.
Microsoft style
Office web components require approximately 30 MB of disk space.
Each thread consumes about 1 MB of virtual memory.
A 64-bit version of Windows Vista can access from 1 GB of RAM to more than 128 GB of RAM.
In the noun forms that refer to memory measurements, use of in a prepositional phrase, as in “512 MB of RAM.”
Do not hyphenate when referring to various memory models such as tiny memory model, large memory model, and so on.
Do hyphenate when the term modifies program as in such phrases as tiny-model program and large-memory-model program.
Always hyphenate. Use memory-resident program, not TSR, in content for a general audience. TSR, which stands for terminate-and-stay-resident, is all right to use in content for a technical audience.
Do not use in content for a general audience. Use command instead. In content for software developers about creating elements of the user interface, menu item may be the best term to use.
In the context of email, use message or email message to refer to an item sent or received. Do not refer to a single message as an email.
Do not use to mean message. See also Messages (Chapter 5).
One word. Use in content for software developers, web developers, or information technology professionals to refer to data that describes other data.
Abbreviation for megahertz. Use the abbreviation only as a measurement with numerals. Do not use the abbreviation in text without a numeral. Spell out megahertz on first mention. See also megahertz.
Use to refer to more than one mouse. See also Mouse terminology (Chapter 5).
In general, do not hyphenate words beginning with micro-, such as microprocessor and microsecond, unless it is necessary to avoid confusion or if micro is followed by a proper noun. When in doubt, refer to the American Heritage Dictionary, or consult your project style sheet.
When referring to the license agreement, use Microsoft Software License Terms, instead of End-User License Agreement or EULA. On first mention, use the full name. On subsequent mention, it is all right to shorten to license terms. Do not use licensing terms.
Note capitalization. The name of the Microsoft antispyware product. The short form of the name is Windows AntiSpyware. See also antispyware.
Do not use 12 A.M. or 12 P.M. to specify midnight. Use 00:00, or just midnight.
Midnight is considered the beginning of the new day, not the end of the old one. If you are concerned about ambiguity, refer to 23:59 or 00:01. See also A.M., P.M.
Refers to the button containing a short line that is located in the upper-right corner of a window that has not been minimized. The Minimize button performs the same function as the Minimize command on a window’s shortcut menu.
Do not use Minimize box or Minimize icon. Use the phrase “Minimize button” to refer to the button, not just “Minimize.” However, it is all right to use minimize as a verb. Minimize as part of the Minimize button is always bold.
Microsoft style
Click the Minimize button.
To reduce a program to a button on the taskbar, minimize the window.
Not Microsoft style
Click Minimize.
Use an en dash for a minus sign except for user input when the user must type a hyphen. In that case, the correct key should be clearly noted.
The HTML code for a minus sign is –. See also Dashes (Chapter 9).
Two words. Note capitalization. MIP is an acronym for multum in parvo, Latin meaning “much in little.”
Two words. Hyphenate as an adjective.
This term has many potential uses and meanings, including military and religious connotations. It is all right to use this term in a technical context when necessary to describe an application or business process. However, whenever possible, use business-critical or critical instead.
In general, use the most common term that describes a particular device, such as phone or tablet. Use mobile device only when you need to refer generically to a variety or group of devices and to distinguish them from nonportable devices. See also device, mobile phone, portable computer.
In general, use the most generic term that describes a device. For example, just use phone unless you need to call out the mobility of the phone. Then use mobile phone.
If you are referring to a specific type of mobile phone, such as a cellular phone or a digital phone, it is all right to be specific. Use smartphone only when you need to make a distinction between smartphones and other kinds of phones.
Do not use mobile telephone.
Do not use device to refer to a phone unless you need to write about a generic category that includes such devices as phones, laptops, and tablet PCs. See also phone, smartphone.
Refers to the visual display hardware that includes the screen. Use screen to refer to the graphic portion of a monitor. Use display as a general term for any visual output device, such as a flat-panel display on a portable computer.
Microsoft style
Turn on the monitor.
Icons appear on the screen.
The newest laptops have active-matrix LCD displays.
One word. A monospace font is used primarily for examples of code, including program examples and, within text, variable names, function names, argument names, and so on. See also Document conventions (Chapter 6).
Use more than to refer to quantifiable figures and amounts. Use over to refer to a spatial relationship or position or in a comparison in which more is already used. See also over.
Microsoft style
The Design Gallery contains more than 16 million colors.
After you compress your drive, your disk will have over 50 percent more free space.
If you want the Help topic to appear over the document you are working on, click the On Top button.
Do not use as a verb phrase. To describe the action of moving the mouse over a button, use a phrase such as point to or, for novice users, move the pointer over the button.
Do not use. Use arrow keys instead. See also Key names (Chapter 5).
Abbreviation for Moving Picture Experts Group (not Motion Pictures Experts Group), a working group responsible for, among other things, file formats for moving pictures, with or without audio. Files in MPEG format are used on CD-ROMs, video CDs, and DVDs. Don’t spell out. The extension for MPEG files is .mpg.
Do not use DOS to refer to the MS-DOS operating system.
Do not use MS-DOS as an adjective before anything that is not a component or aspect of the MS-DOS operating system. Use MS-DOS-based instead. See also DOS.
Microsoft style
MS-DOS-based computer
MS-DOS command
Not Microsoft style
DOS program
MS-DOS program
MS-DOS computer
Use instead of non-Windows program when discussing software that runs on the MS-DOS operating system.
In content for a technical audience, it is all right to refer to programs that run only in the Command Prompt window as console applications. Character-based application is all right to use for generic references to programs that do not run in Windows or other graphical environments, if the audience is familiar with the term.
Note that MS-DOS-based program is spelled with two hyphens, not a hyphen and an en dash.
In general, do not hyphenate words beginning with multi unless it is necessary to avoid confusion or if multi is followed by a proper noun. When in doubt, check the American Heritage Dictionary, or consult your project style sheet. If the word does not appear there or in the following list, use multiple before the word instead. Do not invent new words by combining them with multi.
Microsoft style
multicast
multichannel
multicolumn
multilevel
multiline
multilingual
multimedia
multiprocessor
multipurpose
multiuser
International considerations
Creating new words makes content more difficult for the worldwide audience and may lead to mistranslation in machine-translated content.
Use to refer to a selection that includes multiple items. Do not use disjoint selection, nonadjacent selection, or noncontiguous selection, except in content for a technical audience, and only if the term appears in the user interface or application programming interface. If you must use a term for selected items that do not touch each other, use multiple selection, or refer to the specific nonadjacent items instead. See also adjacent selection, nonadjacent selection.
In general, use the multiplication sign (x), not the letter x, to indicate the mathematical operation. Use an asterisk (*) if required to match the user interface.
Use x to mean by in referring to screen resolution or to physical dimensions.
The HTML code for the multiplication sign is × or ×. See also Chapter 11.
Do not use any form of this word as a verb. It’s jargon.
Microsoft style
Windows 7 supports multitasking.
Not Microsoft style
You can multitask with Windows 7.