Conventionally, a lowercase n in italic type refers to a generic use of a number. You can use n when the value of a number is arbitrary or immaterial. For example, you can say “move the insertion point n spaces to the right.” Reserve a lowercase x in italic type for representing an unknown in mathematical equations (a variable) and other such placeholders. See also x.
International considerations
Because n does not refer to the generic use of a number in all languages, using n for this purpose may lead to mistranslation in machine-translated content.
Do not use to refer to a computer system’s machine language. This term could be a misleading anthropomorphism. Use machine language or host language instead.
Do not use natural user interface or NUI in content for a general audience unless you have no other choice. Spell out on first mention.
Do not use to refer to the act of going from place to place on the World Wide Web or on an intranet. Use browse instead.
To refer to the act of going directly to a webpage or website, whether by typing a URL in the Address bar of a browser or by clicking a hyperlink, use go to. Do not use see in this context.
Microsoft style
To start browsing the web, click any link on your home page when you start Internet Explorer.
To go to a webpage, type the address of the page in the Address bar, and then click Go.
It is all right to refer to controls or buttons on the user interface as navigation buttons and to Help topics or webpages that orient the user as navigation topics or navigation pages.
Often confused with want. Be sure to use the term that is appropriate to the situation. Need connotes a requirement or obligation; want indicates that the user has a choice of actions.
Microsoft style
If you want to use a laser printer, you need a laser printer driver.
Note capitalization. Slang expression for Internet. All right to use in informal writing. Do not use in product documentation.
Note capitalization. Always begin with a dot (.). Do not spell out as dot NET. It is all right to begin a sentence with .NET if it is necessary to avoid awkwardness or ambiguity, but be aware that the consecutive periods may briefly confuse some users.
Do not use netbook unless you’re referring to a specific make and model of a computer that includes netbook in its name. Use computer or laptop instead. See also computer, device, laptop (n.), portable computer.
Do not shorten to net. Do not use network as a verb to describe the action of connecting a computer to a network.
A computer is on, not in, a network, and computers on a network are linked or connected, not networked.
Use network as a verb and the noun networking only to refer to making personal and business connections.
Use instead of network card to describe hardware that supports connecting a computer to a network. See also adapter, board, card.
Use only to specifically refer to the administrator of networks. In general, use administrator or system administrator unless you must specify a particular kind. See also system administrator, sysop.
Use new line as a noun phrase. Use newline as an adjective to refer to the ASCII end-of-line code (CR/LF), which moves the cursor to the beginning of a new line. Use newline character instead of end-of-line mark to refer to the ASCII end-of-line code.
Microsoft style
Press Shift+Enter to start a new line.
Use the newline character to move to the beginning of the next line.
Do not hyphenate words beginning with non-, such as nonnumeric and nonzero, unless a hyphen is necessary to avoid confusion, as in non-native, or non- is followed by a proper noun, as in non-English. When in doubt, check the American Heritage Dictionary, or consult your project style sheet.
Do not use non- to negate an entire phrase. See also Hyphens, hyphenation (Chapter 9).
Microsoft style
security-related
unrelated to security
Not Microsoft style
non-security related
Do not use in content for a general audience to refer to a type of multiple selection in which items such as cells in a table or worksheet do not touch. Use in content for a technical audience only if the term appears in the user interface or application programming interface. In general, 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, multiple selection, noncontiguous selection.
Microsoft style
To select multiple adjacent cells, drag across the cells that you want to select.
To select nonadjacent cells, select a single cell, and then hold down the Ctrl key while you click other cells that you want to select.
Do not use in content for a general audience to refer to a type of multiple selection in which items such as cells in a table or worksheet do not touch. Use in content for a technical audience only if the term appears in the user interface or application programming interface. In general, if you must use a term for selected items that do not touch each other, use multiple selection, or refer to the specific noncontiguous items instead. See also adjacent selection, multiple selection, noncontiguous selection.
Microsoft style
To select multiple adjacent cells, drag across the cells that you want to select.
Use nonprintable to refer to an area of a page that cannot be printed on. Use nonprinting to refer to characters and other data that cannot or will not be printed. Do not use unprintable, which means “not fit to be printed,” in this context.
Microsoft style
Some text extends into the nonprintable area of the page.
When you click Show/Hide, Word displays all nonprinting characters, including paragraph marks and space marks.
Do not use. Use the names of specific operating systems instead, such as an MS-DOS-based program, a UNIX-based program, and so on. Also do not use non-Windows. Use a “not” construction, instead. For example, say “a program that is not based on Windows.”
Implies “in a normal manner,” which may not be possible for everyone. Do not use normal to mean customary, usual, typical, or a similar term. Do not use normally to mean often, usually, ordinarily, typically, generally or a similar term.
Do not use notebook unless you’re referring to a specific make and model of a computer that includes notebook in its name. Use computer or laptop instead. See also computer, device, laptop, portable computer.
The area on the right side of the taskbar formerly called the system tray or status area. The clock and system notifications appear here.
Do not use the following terms as synonyms for notification area:
system tray
systray
status area
It is all right to refer to the location of the notification area, but such references should not be incorporated into the name, which is always notification area. Do not use the word area by itself to refer to the notification area. Avoid noun stacks and descriptions that might leave the impression that there is more than one notification area.
Microsoft style
The clock appears in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar.
The notification area is located at the far right of the taskbar.
Not Microsoft style
The clock appears in the notification area of the taskbar.
The clock appears in the notification area on the taskbar.
The clock appears in the taskbar notification area.
The clock appears in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar.
The clock appears in the area at the far right of the taskbar.
Be sure to preserve the distinction between a null (ASCII NUL) character and a zero character. A null character displays nothing, even though it takes up space. It is represented by ASCII code 0. A zero character, on the other hand, refers to the digit 0 and is represented by ASCII code 48.
Use lowercase null to refer to a null value. Better yet, use null value to avoid confusion with the constant.
Use NULL or Null (depending on the language) only to refer to the constant.
Use null-terminated as an adjective, as in “null-terminated string.” Do not use null-terminating, as in “null-terminating character.” Use terminating null character instead.
Use number sign instead of pound sign to refer to the # symbol. However, it is all right to use pound key (#), including the symbol in parentheses, to refer specifically to telephones or telephone numbers.
Always spell out number. Do not use the # symbol, except as a key name. For example, use number 7, not #7. When space is limited, as in tables, it is all right to abbreviate number as No.
International considerations
Because the abbreviation No. is not used to abbreviate number in other languages, using No. for this purpose may lead to mistranslation in machine-translated content.