Microsoft Manual of Style

Cover
	Copyright page
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction to the Fourth Edition
	What’s inside
	How to use this manual
	Other references
	Acknowledgments
	Contact the Microsoft Editorial Board
	Errata & book support
	We want to hear from you
	Stay in touch
Part 1: General Topics
	Chapter 1:
Microsoft style and voice
		Principles of Microsoft style
		Bias-free communication
		Anthropomorphism
		Parallelism
	Chapter 2:
Content for the web
		Make the right content choices
		Text for the web
		Video content for the web
		Blogs
		Community-provided content
		Evaluate your content
		Help users find your content
		International considerations for web content
		Accessibility considerations for web content
		Legal considerations for web content
	Chapter 3:
Content for a worldwide audience
		Global English syntax
		Machine translation syntax
		Terminology and word choice
		Technical terms
		Jargon
		Latin and other non-English words
		Global art
		Examples and scenarios
		International currency
		Time and place
		Names and contact information
		Fonts
		Web, software, and HTML issues
		Legal issues with worldwide content
		Additional globalization resources
	Chapter 4:
Accessible content
		Accessibility guidelines and requirements
		Accessible webpages
		Accessible writing
		Accessible graphics and design
		Acceptable terminology
	Chapter 5:
The user interface
		Windows user interface
		Windows Phone user interface
		User interface elements
		Ribbons, menus, and toolbars
		Webpage controls, dialog boxes, and property sheets
		Backstage view
		Control Panel
		Messages
		Other user interface elements
		Modes of interaction
		Mouse terminology
		Key names
		Content for multiple platforms
		User interface text
		User interface formatting
	Chapter 6:
Procedures and technical content
		Procedures
		Document conventions
		Cloud computing style
		Reference documentation
		Code examples
		Security
		Command syntax
		File names and extensions
		Version identifiers
		Out-of-band release terminology
		Protocols
		XML tag, element, and attribute formatting
		HTML tag, element, and attribute formatting
		Readme files and release notes
	Chapter 7:
Practical issues of style
		Capitalization
		Titles and headings
		Microsoft in product and service names
		Lists
		Tables
		Cross-references
		Notes and tips
		Numbers
		Dates
		Phone numbers
		Time zones
		Measurements and units of measure
		URLs, addresses
		Names of special characters
		Art, captions, and callouts
		Bibliographies and citations
		Page layout
	Chapter 8:
Grammar
		Verbs and verb forms
		Agreement
		Voice
		Mood
		Nouns
		Words ending in -ing
		Prepositions
		Prefixes
		Dangling and misplaced modifiers
	Chapter 9:
Punctuation
		Periods
		Commas
		Apostrophes
		Colons
		Semicolons
		Quotation marks
		Parentheses
		Hyphens, hyphenation
		Dashes
		Ellipses
		Slash mark
		Formatting punctuation
	Chapter 10:
Indexes and keywords
		Indexes
		Keywords and online index entries
	Chapter 11:
Acronyms and other abbreviations
		How to use acronyms and other abbreviations
		Table of acronyms and other abbreviations
		How to use abbreviations of measurements
		Table of abbreviations of measurements
		Process for adopting new acronyms or abbreviations
Part 2: Usage Dictionary
	Numbers and symbols
		35mm
		8.5-by-11-inch paper
	A
		A.M., P.M.
		-able, -ible
		abort
		above
		accelerator key
		access
		access key
		access privileges
		access rights
		accessible
		accessory
		accounts receivable
		achievement
		acknowledgment
		action bar
		action button
		actionable
		activate
		active player, active user
		active vs. current
		ad hoc
		adapter
		add
		add-in, add-on
		adjacent selection
		administer
		administrator
		Administrator program
		affect vs. effect
		afterward
		against
		alarm
		album
		alert
		align, aligned on
		allow
		alpha
		alphabetical
		alphanumeric
		alt text
		among vs. between
		ampersand (&)
		and so on
		and/or
		antialiasing
		antimalware
		antispyware
		antivirus
		app
		appears, displays
		appendix, appendices
		applet
		application
		application developer
		application file
		application icon
		application window
		arabic numerals
		argument vs. parameter
		arrow
		arrow keys
		arrow pointer
		article
		as
		as well as
		assembly language
		assistive
		asterisk (*)
		at sign (@)
		attribute
		audiobook
		audit trail
		author
		auto-
	B
		back end
		back up, backup
		backbone
		backlight
		backspace
		backtab
		backward
		badge
		base line vs. baseline
		baud
		because vs. since
		beep
		below
		beta
		bi-
		big-endian, little-endian
		bio
		bitmap
		bitmask
		bitplane
		bits per second
		bitwise
		black box
		black hole
		blacklist
		blank
		blog, weblog
		blue screen, bluescreen
		board
		bold
		bookmark
		Boolean
		boot
		bootable disk
		bot
		bottom left, bottom right
		bounding outline
		box
		bps
		breakpoint
		Briefcase
		broadcast
		browse
		browse vs. find
		browser
		bug
		bug fix
		build
		bulleted
		burn
		button
	C
		C, C++, C#
		cable
		cabling
		cache vs. disk cache
		calendar
		call back, callback
		call out, callout
		caller ID
		can vs. may
		Cancel button
		cancel the selection
		canceled, canceling
		card
		carriage return/line feed
		carry out vs. run
		cascading menu
		cascading style sheets
		catalog
		category axis
		caution
		CBT
		CD
		CD case
		CD key
		cellular
		center around
		chapter
		character set
		chart
		chat
		check
		check box
		check in
		check mark
		checked command
		child folder
		choose
		clear
		click
		clickstream
		clickthrough
		client
		client side
		client/server
		clip art
		Clipboard
		close
		Close button
		cloud
		co-
		code page
		code point
		codec
		collaborate, collaboration, collaborator
		color map
		column format
		COM
		combo box
		command
		command button
		command line
		command prompt
		communications port
		compact disc
		CompactFlash
		compare to vs. compare with
		compile
		comprise
		computer
		Computer icon
		connect
		console
		context menu
		context-sensitive
		contiguous selection
		control
		control-menu box
		copy
		corrupted
		country/region
		crash
		criteria
		critical process monitor
		critical section object
		critical update
		current drive
		current folder
		current window
		cursor
		cut
		cut-and-paste
	D
		data
		data binding
		data center vs. datacenter
		data modem
		data record
		database
		datagram
		datum
		deaf or hard of hearing
		debug
		deceptive software
		decrement
		default
		definition update
		defragment
		deinstall
		delete
		demilitarized zone
		deprecated
		depress
		deselect
		Designer
		desire
		desktop
		destination
		destination disk, destination drive, destination file
		device
		device driver
		dezoom
		dialog
		dialog box
		dial-up
		different
		dimmed
		direction keys
		directory
		directory icon
		disable
		disabled
		disc
		discreet vs. discrete
		disjoint selection
		disk
		disk resource
		disk space
		diskette
		display
		display adapter, display driver
		DNS
		document
		domain
		done
		DOS
		dot-com
		dotted rectangle
		double buffering
		double word
		double-click, double-clicking
		downgrade
		downlevel
		download
		drag
		drag-and-drop
		drive
		drive name
		drop-down
		DVD
		dynamic-link library
		dynamic service capacity
	E
		e.g.
		earlier
		e-book
		e-commerce
		edit
		Editor
		edutainment
		e-form
		either/or
		elastic service capacity
		e-learning
		ellipsis button
		email
		embed
		enable, enabled
		end
		end user, end-user
		End-User License Agreement
		endline
		endpoint
		ensure
		enter
		enterprise
		entry
		entry field
		environment variable
		erase
		et al.
		etc.
		EULA
		euro
		e-words
		executable file
		execute
		exit
		expand, collapse
		expose
		extend
		extension, file name extension
		e-zine, webzine
	F
		facsimile
		fail
		FALSE
		family
		Far East
		far-left, far-right
		fast key
		favorite
		fax
		feature pack
		field
		Figure
		file
		file attributes
		file extension
		file name
		file name extension, extension
		finalize
		find and replace
		finished
		firewall
		fixed disk
		flick
		flush
		flush to
		folder
		folder icon
		following
		font and font style
		foobar, fubar
		footer
		foreground program
		format, formatted, formatting
		Fortran
		fourth-generation language
		frameset
		friendly name
		from
		from vs. than
		front end, front-end
		full file replacement
		function
	G
		G, G byte, Gbyte
		gallery
		game pad
		Gantt chart
		garbage collection
		gateway
		GB
		Gbit
		general protection fault
		GHz
		gigabit
		gigabyte
		gigahertz
		given
		global
		glyph
		GP fault
		graphic, graphical, graphics
		graphics adapter
		gray, grayed
		graylist
		grayscale
		greater, better
		gridline
		group, newsgroup
		group box
		groupware
		grow
	H
		hack, hacker
		half inch
		handheld computer
		handle
		handshake
		hang
		hard copy
		hard disk
		hard-coded
		hard-of-hearing
		hardware
		hardwired
		he/she
		header
		heading
		hearing-impaired
		Help
		hexadecimal
		hierarchical menu
		higher
		high-level-language compiler
		high-quality
		high-resolution
		highlight
		hint
		hi-res
		hit
		home directory
		home page
		honeypot
		host name
		hosted service
		hosting provider
		hot key
		hot link
		hot spot, hotspot
		hotfix
		hover over
		how-to vs. how to
		HTML
		HTTP
		Hub
		hybrid cloud
		hyperlink
	I
		i.e.
		IA-32-based
		IA-64-based
		I-beam
		icon
		iconize
		if vs. when vs. whether
		illegal
		image map
		imbed
		impact
		in, into
		in order to
		inactive, inactive state
		inbound
		incent
		incoming, outgoing
		increment
		indent, indentation
		indenting, outdenting
		independent content provider
		index, indexes
		infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
		initialize
		initiate
		inline
		input
		input device
		input/output
		input/output control
		insecure
		insertion point
		inside
		install
		instant message, IM
		instantiate
		insure
		Intel-based
		interface
		Internet, intranet, extranet
		Internet Connection Sharing
		Internet Explorer
		Internet service provider
		Interrupt
		invalid, not valid
		inverse video
		invoke
		IP address
		issue
		IT as a service (ITaaS)
		IT pro
		italic
		Itanium-based
		its vs. it’s
	J
		Java, JScript, JavaScript
		jewel case
		join
		joystick
		jump
		justify, justified
	K
		K, K byte, Kbyte
		KB
		Kbit
		KBps, Kbps
		Kerberos protocol
		key combination
		key sequence
		keyboard shortcut
		keypad
		keypress
		keystroke
		kHz
		kilobit
		kilobits per second
		kilobyte
		kilobytes per second
		kilohertz
		kludge, kludgy
		knowledge base, Knowledge Base
	L
		label, labeled, labeling
		landscape orientation
		laptop
		later
		launch
		lay out, laid out, layout
		leave
		left
		left align, left-aligned
		left mouse button
		left-hand
		left-justified
		leftmost
		legacy
		legal
		less vs. fewer vs. under
		let, lets
		leverage
		license terms
		life cycle
		like
		-like
		line
		line feed
		link
		linking and embedding
		list box
		load
		localhost
		lock
		lock up
		log on, log off, logon, logoff
		look at
		look up
		lo-res
		lower
		lower left, lower right
		lowercase
		low-resolution
	M
		M, M byte, Mbyte
		Mac, Macintosh
		machine
		machine language
		Macro Assembler
		main document
		makefile
		malicious code
		malicious user
		malware, malicious software
		management information systems
		manipulate
		manual
		marquee
		master/slave
		master/subordinate
		mathematical
		matrix, matrices
		maximize
		Maximize button
		MB
		measured service
		medium, media
		meg
		megabit
		megabits per second
		megabyte
		megahertz
		member function
		memory
		memory models
		memory-resident
		menu item
		message (email)
		message box
		metadata
		metafile
		MHz
		mice
		micro-
		microprocessor
		Microsoft
		Microsoft Software License Terms
		Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware
		midnight
		minimize
		Minimize button
		minus sign (–)
		MIP mapping
		mission critical, mission-critical
		mobile device
		mobile phone
		monitor
		monospace
		more than vs. over
		mouse over
		movable
		movement keys
		MPEG
		MS-DOS
		MS-DOS prompt
		MS-DOS-based program
		multi-
		multiple selection
		multiplication sign (×)
		multitasking
		multithreaded
	N
		n
		namespace
		nanosecond
		native language
		natural user interface, NUI
		navigate
		need
		Net
		.NET
		netbook
		network
		network adapter
		network administrator
		network connection
		network drive
		new line, newline
		non-
		nonadjacent selection
		noncontiguous selection
		nonprintable, nonprinting
		non-Windows application, non-Windows-based
		normal, normally
		notebook
		notification area
		NT
		NUL, null, NULL, Null
		null-terminated, null-terminating
		number sign (#)
		numeric
	O
		object
		Object Linking and Embedding
		obsolete
		of
		offline
		off-premises, on-premises
		okay, OK
		on
		on the fly
		on/off switch
		once
		online
		online Help
		on-screen
		on-screen keyboard
		onto, on to
		opcode
		open
		operating environment, operating system
		option, option button
		outdent
		output
		outside
		over
		overtype
		overwrite
	P
		page
		palette
		pan
		pane
		panorama
		parameter
		parent/child
		parenthesis, parentheses
		patch
		patch management
		patching
		path
		PC
		PC Card vs. PCMCIA
		p-code
		pen
		per
		percent, percentage
		perimeter network
		peripheral
		permissions
		phone
		photo
		pin
		pinch
		ping, PING
		pipe
		pixel
		placeholder
		plaintext vs. plain text
		platform
		platform as a service (PaaS)
		playlist
		Plug and Play
		plug-in
		point to
		pointer
		pointing device
		pop-up
		port
		portable computer
		portrait orientation
		post office vs. postoffice
		pound key, pound sign (#)
		power cord
		power down, power up, power off, power on
		power user
		pre-
		preceding
		Preface
		press
		Press (Microsoft Press)
		print, printout
		print queue
		private cloud, hosted private cloud
		privileges
		product ID
		product key
		program file
		program vs. application
		progress indicator
		prohibition sign
		prompt
		prop
		properties
		property sheet, property page
		protected mode
		public cloud
		pull quote
		pull-down
		purge
		push button, push-button
		push-to-talk
	Q
		quality
		quarter inch
		quick key
		quit
	R
		radio button
		ragged right
		RAM
		range selection
		re-
		read/write
		read/write permission
		read-only
		real-time, real time
		reboot
		recommend
		Recycle Bin
		refresh
		registry, registry settings
		reinitialize
		release notes
		REM statement
		remote
		remove
		replace
		restore
		Restore button
		restore (SQL Server)
		right
		right align, right-aligned
		right mouse button
		right-click
		right-hand
		rightmost
		rights
		rip
		ROM
		root directory
		RTFM
		running foot, running head
		run time, runtime, run-time
		run vs. execute
		runs vs. runs on
	S
		(s), (es)
		sample vs. preview
		save
		scale up
		scan line
		screen
		screen resolution
		screened subnet
		ScreenTip
		script, scripting language
		scriptlet
		scroll
		scroll arrow, scroll bar, scroll box
		search, search and replace
		secondary menu
		security patch
		security update
		select
		selection cursor
		service-oriented architecture
		service pack
		set up, setup, Setup
		set vs. specify
		setting
		set-top box
		shaded
		shell
		ship
		shortcut
		shortcut key
		shortcut menu
		should vs. must
		shut down, shutdown, Shut Down
		sign in, sign out, sign on, sign up
		simply
		site
		site map
		size
		slate
		slider
		small caps
		smart card, Smart Card
		smartphone
		snap-in
		soft copy
		software as a service (SaaS)
		software-plus-services
		software update
		sound card
		spam
		specification
		speed key
		spelling checker
		spider
		spin box
		split bar
		split box
		spoofing
		spreadsheet
		spyware
		SQL
		SQL Server
		stand-alone
		start, Start (the menu)
		start page
		startup, start up
		status bar
		stop
		storage, storage device
		stream, streaming
		stretch
		strike
		strikethrough
		struct
		style sheet
		sub-
		subaddress
		subclass
		submenu
		Super VGA, SVGA
		surf
		swipe
		switch
		symbol
		sync
		sysop
		system
		system administrator
		system prompt
		system software
		system tray
	T
		tab
		table of contents
		tablet, tablet PC
		Taiwan
		tap
		target disk, target drive, target file
		taskbar
		TB
		telnet, Telnet
		terabyte
		terminal
		terminate
		text box
		that vs. which
		then
		thread
		three-dimensional, 3-D
		Tile, Live Tile
		time bomb, timebomb
		time stamp
		time-out, time out
		title bar
		titled vs. entitled
		toggle
		tone
		tool
		toolbox
		toolkit
		tooltip
		top left, top right
		topic
		toward
		trailing
		trojan horse, trojan
		TRUE
		turn
		turn on, turn off
		turnkey
		tutorial
		two-dimensional, 2-D
		type vs. enter
	U
		U.K.
		U.S.
		un-
		unavailable
		UNC
		uncheck, unmark, unselect
		undelete
		underline, underscore
		undo
		uninstall
		unprintable
		unregister
		unwanted software
		update
		update rollup
		upgrade
		UPnP
		upper left, upper right
		uppercase
		uppercase and lowercase
		upsize
		upward
		usable
		use terms
		Usenet
		user name
		user rights
		using vs. by using
		using vs. with
		utility
		utilize
	V
		value axis
		VCR
		versus, vs.
		VGA
		vibration
		video adapter
		video board
		video card
		video display
		video driver
		video game, video-game
		viewport
		virtual
		virtual root
		virtual server
		virtualize
		visit
		voice mail
		vulnerability
	W
		W3C
		want
		we
		web
		Web Apps
		webpage
		website
		weblication
		where
		while
		whitelist
		white paper
		white space, white-space
		who vs. that
		Wi-Fi
		wildcard character
		window
		Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware
		Windows 7
		Windows Events
		Windows Explorer
		Windows Installer
		Windows NT Server, Windows NT Workstation
		Windows Vista
		Windows, Windows-based
		Winsock
		wireframe
		want
		wizard
		word processing
		wordwrap, wordwrapping
		work area
		workgroup
		working memory
		worksheet
		workspace
		workstation
		World Wide Web
		write-only
		write-protect, write-protected
		WWW
	X
		x
		x86
		x-axis
		Xbase
		x-coordinate
		XON/XOF
	Y
		y-axis
		y-coordinate
	Z
		z-
		z-axis
		zero, zeros
		zero character
		ZIP Code
		zoom in, zoom out
Index
Survey page