Use the following terms and phrases. Also, note the given spellings.
Important: In addition to the rules listed here, see Controls: General rules.
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Use: menu, submenu, shortcut menu
Don’t use: drop-down menu, pull-down menu, secondary menu, cascading menu, pop-up menu, context menu, right-click menu
The round or square button in the upper left corner of a ribbon opens the Application menu. The Start menu on the taskbar is used for starting programs.
Use: menu command, menu item (menu item is mainly used for items that aren’t commands, such as names of windows in the Window menu); usually, however, you don’t have to use these terms at all; for example, just say: from the File menu, choose Open.
Don’t use: menu option, choice
Use: from … choose, choose
Don’t use: in the menu, open, select (you select a check box, and you select an item in a list)
Always stick to the same order that users must follow through the menu hierarchy.
No:
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Choose Print from the File menu.
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Yes:
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If you want to emphasize that users must look at the menu rather than at another control:
diversified style:
From the File menu, choose Print.
Choose the menu command View > Font Size > Large.
unified style:
On the File menu, click Print.
On the View menu, click Font Size, and then click Large.
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Yes:
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If it’s obvious that you mean a menu:
Choose File > Print.
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The ribbon consists of tabs, groups, and controls.
The round or square button in the upper left corner is the Application button. When you click this button, the Application menu appears. When possible, avoid these terms and use the name of the program instead. For example, if your program is called “DemoSoft,” use DemoSoft button and DemoSoft menu.
The toolbar on the ribbon is the Quick Access toolbar.
With all toolbars, refer to the buttons and symbols on a toolbar by their labels. If a button or symbol has no label, use the text of the tip that appears when you hold the pointer over the control (for details, see the following section on icons and symbols).
Refer to menu buttons by their labels plus the word menu.
Yes:
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On the Quick Access toolbar, on the Write tab, click Find & Replace.
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Yes:
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On the Write tab, in the Font box, enter “Arial.”
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Yes:
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On the Write tab, in Paragraph Settings, select Center text.
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Yes:
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On the toolbar, from the Insert Link menu, choose File Link.
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Use the term icon only for program icons, which are usually either on the desktop or on the taskbar.
For user interface elements that are identified by a graphic rather than by a text label, use button. If it’s inappropriate to call the icon a button, use symbol.
Yes:
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To start the program, double-click the DemoSoft icon.
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Yes:
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To find a particular term, click the Search button.
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Yes:
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Drag the document symbol to the list.
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If possible, avoid naming the control altogether (see Controls: Buttons, Command links).
Yes:
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To find a particular term, click the Search button.
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Yes:
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To find a particular term, click Search.
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