A
a.m.—Lowercase, no space after first period. Include a space between the number and a.m. (e.g., 9 a.m.).
Access point—Abbreviate as AP. Plural, APs. Wireless access point (WAP) considered redundant because AP assumed to be part of a wireless network.
ActiveX—Note capitalization of this Microsoft trademark. Term should be used as an adjective only. For example, “ActiveX control,” “ActiveX technologies.”
add-on (n., adj.); add on (v.)—Note hyphen when used as a noun or adjective. Two words when used as a verb.
address book—Two words.
adware—One word.
a lot—Two words.
aka—Abbreviation for “also known as.” Lowercase, no periods, no spaces.
all right—Two words. Do not use alright. Hyphenate when it precedes the word it modifies. For example:
- “Do you feel all right?
- “It was an all-right party—not great, but not bad, either.”
alt text—Abbreviation for alternative text, which is text entered into the HTML alt attribute associated with an image on a Web page.
Android™ smartphone—The Android smartphone must have the trademark and the word smartphone following it the first time it is used in documentation. Repeat uses in the same document should read “Android smartphone(s)” not “Androids.”
anti—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with an “i” or a capital letter. If it does so, hyphenate the word. For example, “anti-intelligence,” “anti-American.”
anti-malware—Lowercase when used generically. The AP Stylebook includes the hyphen in this exception to the above rule. However, when referring to the name of a specific anti-malware product, use the manufacturer’s spelling, hyphenation, and capitalization. For example, “One program is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.”
anti-virus—Lowercase when used generically. The AP Stylebook includes the hyphen in this exception to the above rule. When referring to the name of a specific anti-virus product, use the manufacturer’s spelling, hyphenation, and capitalization. For example, “One program is Symantec’s Norton AntiVirus.”
app—Short form of application. Plural: apps. Do not use if there’s any cause for confusion.
application vs. program
- Use program for materials written for non-technical readers (e.g., the general UD community).
- Use application for materials written for software developers/IT professionals.
Whenever possible, use the description of a product. For example, if referring to MS Word, use “To create a text document, use the word processor MS Word.”
ASCII—Acronym for “American Standard Code for Information Interchange.” The acronym does not need to be defined. Just use ASCII.
audio conference—Two words.
auto-renew (adj., v.)—Note hyphen. For example: “The software includes an auto-renew feature.”
For the verb, it’s preferable to use “automatically renew,” unless space is limited and the meaning of auto-renew will be clear from the context. For example,
- “Your subscription will automatically renew.”
- “Check this box to auto-renew.”
avatar—Lowercase when used generically.
B
B2B—Abbreviation for “business-to-business.”
backdoor (n., adj.)—One word. A method or tool for surreptitiously gaining access to a computer system.
back up vs. backup
- back up is two words when used as a verb. For example, “Back up your files on a regular basis.”
- backup is one word when used as a noun or adjective. For example, “Keep your backup files in a safe location.”
beta—Capitalize only if it is part of an official product name. Otherwise, use lowercase letters.
Bing—Capitalize when referring to Microsoft’s search engine.
bitstream—One word. A stream of data.
BlackBerry® smartphone is the correct usage for this mobile device. Plural: BlackBerry smartphones (because the word is a trademark, don’t use BlackBerrys unless it’s part of a direct quotation).
blog—Preferred to weblog. Weblog is now considered archaic.
blogroll—One word. A blogger’s list of other recommended blogs.
Bluetooth—One word. Note capitalization of this Bluetooth SIG trademark. Use the term as an adjective, and do not add an s to make it a plural noun.
Blu-ray—No e in Blu. Note capitalization and hyphen of this Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) trademark. Use the term as an adjective, and do not add an s to make it a plural noun.
BMP—Abbreviation for bitmap. Generally used to refer to a graphic file (the file extension is .bmp). The abbreviation does not need to be defined. Just use BMP.
bps—Abbreviation for bits per second. Lowercase. Do not include a space between the number and bps. The abbreviation does not need to be defined. Just use bps.
breadcrumb—One word. A navigational term for the path you’ve taken to get to a certain Web page.
C
CAPTCHA—Acronym for Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart. The acronym does not need to be defined. Just use CAPTCHA. Plural: CAPTCHAs.
Cascading Style Sheets—Web-building technology. Use the abbreviation (CSS) only after the initial explanation. Use lowercase style sheets to refer to CSS documents. For example, “Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) specifications allow a site designer to use style sheets to specify layout and other visual aspects of a Web page.”
CATV—Cable television. UD CATV is provided by Comcast, see a list of all available channels and their channel numbers on the UD network.
CD—Abbreviation for compact disc. The abbreviation does not need to be defined. Just use CD. Plural: CDs.
CDMA—Abbreviation for code division multiple access, a digital communication method used by some mobile devices. The abbreviation does not need to be defined. Just use CDMA.
CD-R—Abbreviation for CD-recordable. Note hyphen. Plural: CD-Rs.
CD-ROM—Abbreviation for CD-read-only memory. Note hyphen. The abbreviation does not need to be defined. Just use CD-ROM. Plural: CD-ROMs.
CD-RW—Abbreviation for CD-rewritable. Note hyphen. Plural: CD-RWs.
cell phone—Two words, no hyphen. Note: Cell phone is interchangeable with mobile phone in the U.S. For example:
- “He left the message on my mobile phone.”
- “Type in your cell phone number.”
CGI—Do not use the initials alone in a first reference. Use one of the following instead, depending on the term you’re referring to: computer-generated imaging (CGI), common gateway interface (CGI), or computer graphics interface (CGI).
Chartfields is one word with a capital C.
checkbox—One word.
check mark—Two words.
checkout vs. check out—One word when used as a noun or an adjective. Two words when used as a verb. For example:
- “The checkout process is very short.”
- “You enter this information during checkout.”
- “You’ll find that you can check out very quickly.”
choose vs. select—Use choose to indicate an option. Do not use the verb select when referring to an option on a drop-down list. For example, “Choose Save from the drop-down list.”
cloud computing (n., adj.)—Lowercase this term, which means accessing software and other computer resources over the internet. (The software or other resource exists on a remote server instead of on the individual’s computer.) Examples: “We provide cloud computing services for small businesses.” “With our array of cloud-based services, you can find your business needs met in the cloud.”
computer vs. system—Use computer when referring only to a computer; use system when referring to a computer and peripherals or software.
Continuing Education Unit—Abbreviate as CEU. Plural is CEUs.
cookie—Lowercase when referring to tracking cookies used in browsers.
corrupted—Use corrupted, not corrupt, to describe a file or data. For example:
- “The file was corrupted—I couldn’t open it.”
- “Delete the corrupted file.”
CSS—Abbreviation for Cascading Style Sheets. Abbreviate after first explanation.
CSV—Abbreviation for comma-separated values, a file type. Generally used to refer to a file containing values separated by commas. Abbreviate after first explanation.
cyber—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with a capital letter—if it does, hyphenate. For example: “cyberattack,” “cybercrime,” “cyberterrorism,” “cyber-CIA.”
D
data—Technically, data is the plural of datum, and it should be used with a plural verb (like facts). However, there has been a growing trend to use data with a singular verb. This is now regarded as generally acceptable in American use and in the context of information technology. Therefore, both of the following are examples of correct usage:
- “The data show that the variables do not correlate.”
- “The data is lost.”
Do not mix usage of data (singular) and data (plural) in a document. Select one or the other. ITCG advice: In general, use data as a plural noun since so many current employees and faculty learned to use it in that way.
device (that is used to connect to the internet)—We used to be able to talk about connecting your computer to the internet. “Device” was proposed as a substitute, but is a generic term. Use the context of what you are writing to help determine what terminology to use. Suggested phrase: “computer or other internet-capable device.”
DHTML—Abbreviation for Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language. Depending on audience, may require explanation on first reference.
dialog box—Two words. Dialog boxes contain options (e.g., buttons) that users choose to achieve a particular task.
dial-up vs dial up—Note hyphen when used as a noun or adjective. Two words when used as a verb. For example:
- “Many people in remote areas are still relying on a dial-up connection.”
- “Get high-speed access for the price of dial-up.”
- “My computer takes forever to dial up and connect.”
digicam—One word. Acceptable abbreviation for digital camera.
disc, disk—Use disk when referring to a computer hard disk or floppy disk. Use disc when referring to optical disks such as compact discs (CDs), digital video/versatile discs (DVDs), and laser discs.
domain—The first part of a URL usually ending in .com, .org, .gov, .uk, or the like. It is the part of the network address that identifies the internet domain name. A Windows domain is a network where all user accounts and computers are in a central database.
double-click is always hyphenated when used as a verb. For example, “Double-click the Word icon.”
download—One word. Refers to getting a document from the internet and putting it directly onto your computer. For example, “Download the document from the ‘Files’ folder on Canvas.” Do not use “Download delimited data.” Opposite of upload, which means to put a document on the internet from your computer.
dpi—Acceptable abbreviation for dots per inch. No periods. Insert a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. For example, “This printer only prints at 300 dpi.”
drag-and-drop vs drag and drop—Use hyphens when used as an adjective. Not drag-n-drop or drag ’n’ drop. Three words when used as a verb. For example:
- “Add photos quickly with the drag-and-drop feature.”
- “Just drag and drop photos onto the album.”
Dreamweaver is the correct spelling of the application.
drop-down is hyphenated when used as an adjective. For example, “Choose Exit from the drop-down list.”
drop-down menu (aka drop-down list) is hyphenated when used as an adjective. For example, “Choose Close from the drop-down menu.”
DTV—Abbreviation for digital television. Abbreviation is always acceptable. Plural: DTVs.
DVD—Abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc. Abbreviation is always acceptable. Plural: DVDs.
DVR—Abbreviation for digital video recorder. Abbreviation is always acceptable. Plural: DVRs.
E
Edge—The latest web browser from Microsoft for Windows 10. Capitalized as shown.
e.g.—Abbreviation meaning for example. Note periods. Don’t include a space after the first period. Fine to use when space is a consideration. Include a comma after the last period. See also “i.e.” For example: “Enter a search term (e.g., recipes, horoscopes, gifts) into the search box.”
email—Do not hyphenate.
ePub—Short for electronic publication. An open-standard e-book file format that can be read on various reading programs and hardware devices. Example: “The style guide is available in the open-standard ePub format.”
e-portfolio—Always hyphenate.
Ethernet—Always capitalized.
ex.—Note period. Acceptable abbreviation for “example” when space is tight or in contexts where many examples are used (such as in help documents). For example, “Some user-interface elements (for ex., buttons) should always use title-case capitalization.”
eye tracking vs. eye-tracking—Two words when used as a noun, hyphenated when used as an adjective. For example: “Eye-tracking studies give us a clue about how people scan web pages.”
F
FAQ—Stands for Frequently Asked Question but generally refers to a list of such questions. Plural FAQs. For example, “Many sites include a FAQ to avoid answering the same customer questions repeatedly.”
Fast Ethernet—Note capitalization.
fax—All lowercase letters; no punctuation.
feed reader—Two words. Another name for newsreader.
file name—Two words. Not filename.
Firefox is the correct spelling of the browser program.
Flash—Capitalize when referring to Adobe Flash multimedia technologies. Use this Adobe Systems trademark as an adjective.
Flex—The correct capitalization and spelling for the Flex account as it is implemented at UD.
flow chart vs. flow-chart—Two words when used as a noun, hyphenated when used as an adjective or a verb.
FTP—Abbreviation for File Transfer Protocol. Abbreviation is always acceptable, as is verb usage: “Please FTP that file if it’s larger than 3MB.”
function keys—Lowercase letters. Refers to the F1 through F12 keys on a keyboard.
G
GB—Abbreviation for gigabyte. Don’t include a space between the number and GB.
Gbps—Abbreviation for gigabits per second. Note capitalization—especially the lowercase b, which distinguishes this from GBps, a different measurement. Don’t include a space between the number and the abbreviation. See also “GBps.”
GBps—Abbreviation for gigabytes per second. Note capitalization—especially uppercase B, which distinguishes this from Gbps, a different measurement. Don’t include a space between the number and the abbreviation. See also “Gbps.”
GHz—Abbreviation for gigahertz. Note capitalization. Don’t include a space between the number and GHz.
GIF—Acronym for Graphic Interchange Format. Generally used to refer to an image file with the file name extension gif. Acronym is always acceptable. Plural: GIFs.
gigabyte—Abbreviate as GB. See “GB.”
Google Apps @ UD—Correct terminology when referring to Google Apps as implemented at UD.
GUI—Abbreviation for graphical user interface. Abbreviation acceptable to use after initial explanation. Plural: GUIs.
H
hashtag (n.)—One word. Refers to the tags used on Twitter messages to call out a topic that readers may be searching for, such as #pumpkin on a tweet about Halloween.
HD DVD—Two words, no hyphen. Abbreviation for high-definition digital video disc or high-definition versatile disc. Abbreviation is always fine. Plural: HD DVDs.
HDTV—One word. Abbreviation for high-definition television. Abbreviation is always fine. Plural: HDTVs.
help desk (n., and adj.)—Called “IT Support Center” (ITSC) at UD.
high speed vs. high-speed—Two words when used as a noun; hyphenated when used as an adjective. For example:
- “Sign up now and soar through the internet at a truly high speed.”
- “Get high-speed internet access.”
hotspot vs. hot spot—One word when referring to a Wi-Fi access point.
home page—Two words.
how-to—Note hyphen when used as a noun or an adjective. Plural noun: how-tos. For example:
- “Your how-to guide to home buying.”
- “Home-buying how-to.”
- “How-tos include insider tips as well as basics that you’ll need to understand the process.”
HTML—Abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language. Abbreviation is always acceptable.
I
ID—All capitals, no periods, no space. Not Id or id.
ID Card—UD ONEcard is how the UD ID card is to be referenced.
i.e.—Abbreviation meaning “that is.” Note periods. Don’t include a space after the first period. OK to use when space is a consideration. For example, “This document contains words (i.e., vocabulary) for online instructions.” See also “e.g.”
IM—Acronym for instant message. All capitals, no periods, no space. Other acceptable forms: IMs, IM’ed, IM’ing. See also “instant message.”
inbox—One word, lowercase letters (except when referring to a specific email program that uses a different form). For example:
- “I need to clean out my inbox.”
- “My inbox is full.”
info—Whenever possible, use “information” rather than info., unless space is an issue.
inkjet—One word.
instant message (n.); instant-message (adj., v.)—Two words when used as a noun. Note hyphen when used as an adjective or a verb. See also “IM.” For examples:
- “She got an instant message from her boss.”
- “I’ll instant-message you when I arrive.”
- “The instant-message conversation proved informative.”
instant messenger—Lowercase except in brand names such as AOL Instant Messenger.
internet is not capitalized (effective June 2016).
Internet Explorer is the correct spelling of the browser program.
internet service provider—Note capitalization. Abbreviate as ISP. See also “ISP.”
intranet—Note lowercase. A private internal network typically accessible only to a select group of individuals.
IP—Abbreviation that can stand for Internet Protocol or intellectual property. In a document about registering an internet address, IP’s meaning is clear. But because we are IT, define the abbreviation if there is any chance of misunderstanding. ITCG recommendation: always define IP when it refers to intellectual property.
iPad®—Note capitalization of this Apple trademark. The registered mark must follow the term on the first use in documentation; it does not need to follow the term in subsequent uses in the same document. Do not add an s to make the term plural. Plural: iPad® mobile digital devices; not iPads.
iPhone®—Note capitalization of this Apple trademark. The registered mark must follow the term on the first use in documentation; it does not need to follow the term in subsequent uses in the same document. Plural: iPhone® mobile digital devices; not iPhones or iPhone smartphones.
iPod®—Note capitalization of this Apple trademark. Do not use this brand name generically to refer to all MP3 players, and don’t add an s to make the term plural. Plural: iPod® mobile digital devices; not iPods.
ISP—Abbreviation for internet service provider. Plural: ISPs.
IT—Abbreviation for information technology or information technologies. Abbreviation is always acceptable. At UD, IT stands for UD Information Technologies.
ITSC—IT Support Center. Do not use abbreviation.
iTunes®—Note capitalization of this Apple trademark.
J
Java—Capitalize when referring to the programming language and related technologies.
JavaScript—One word. Note capitalization.
JPEG—Abbreviation for Joint Photographic Experts Group. Generally used to refer to any graphic image file produced by using the JPEG standard. Abbreviation is always acceptable. Plural: JPEGs.
junk mail—Two words. See also: spam.
K
KB—Abbreviation for kilobyte. All capitals. Don’t include a space between the number and KB.
Kbps—Abbreviation for kilobits per second. Note capitalization—especially the lowercase b, which distinguishes this from KBps, a different measurement. Don’t include a space between the number and the abbreviation.
KBps—Abbreviation for kilobytes per second. Note capitalization—especially uppercase B, which distinguishes this from Kbps, a different measurement. Don’t include a space between the number and the abbreviation.
keylogger, keylogging (n.)—Short for keystroke logger, keystroke logging. A keylogger is a tool that can log (record) people’s keystrokes as they type—for example, to steal sensitive information such as user names and passwords.
keyword, key word (n.)—One word when referring to terms that are used on a Web page to optimize it for search engines. Use two words in other cases—for example, when key is a synonym for primary or most important. For examples:
- “An SEO specialist can help you determine the best keywords to use on your Web page so that your page will appear in search results when people search on those words.”
- “The key word in the sentence was ‘always.’”
kHz—Abbreviation for kilohertz. Note capitalization. Don’t include a space between the number and kHz.
kilobytes is abbreviated as KB.
L
LAN—Acronym for local area network. Use the acronym after the initial explanation.
LaTeX—Document preparation system for typesetting. Used for technical or scientific documents.
LCD—Acronym for liquid-crystal display. Acronym is always acceptable. Plural: LCDs.
LED—Acronym for light-emitting diode. Acronym is always acceptable. Plural: LEDs.
left-hand side—Don’t use. Use “left side” instead.
like (v.)—Enclose like in quotation marks when referring to the action of indicating approval on a social-networking site such as Facebook. Example: “Thousands of people have ‘liked’ us on Facebook, helping to raise funds for Stand Up to Cancer.” Treat the term as you would a user-interface element (a button or link, for example) when the reference is to the UI element itself. Use boldface to make UI elements stand out in text. Example: “Visit us on Facebook and click Like, and you could win a prize.”
Linux—Note capitalization of this trademark owned by Linus Torvalds. Not LINUX.
log in—Written as two words when used as a verb phrase. For example, “Log in to your account.”
log in to—Written as three words when used as a verb phrase. For example, “Log in to your account.”
login—Written as one word when used as a noun. For example, “Remember the login information for your account.”
log on—Use “log in”; do not use “log on.”
log off—Use “log out”; do not use “log off.”
logout (n., adj.); log out (v.)—One word when used as a noun or adjective. Two words when used as a verb. For example: “If you forget to log out, you’ll get a logout reminder.”
lookup—One word.
M
Mac—Abbreviation for Macintosh, an Apple trademark. Abbreviation is always fine.
machine—Don’t use when referring to a computer. Use the term “computer” instead. For example: “After 10 seconds, restart the computer.”
Mac OS X is used for a general description of this operating system. For specific versions of Mac OS X, use
- Mac OS X 10.9 (e.g., “Installing Mac OS X 10.9”)
- Mac OS X 10.8 (e.g., “Installing Mac OS X 10.8”)
malware—One word.
MB—Abbreviation for megabyte. All capitals. Don’t include a space between the number and MB. See also “megabyte.”
Mbps—Abbreviation for megabits per second. Note capitalization—especially the lowercase b, which distinguishes this from MBps, a different measurement. Don’t include a space between the number and the abbreviation.
MBps—Abbreviation for megabytes per second. Note capitalization—especially uppercase B, which distinguishes this from Mbps, a different measurement. Don’t include a space between the number and the abbreviation.
Mbyte—Don’t use as an abbreviation for megabyte.
media—Treat media as a mass noun with a singular verb, unless you can distinguish the individual “mediums” (modes of communication) making up a use of media. For example,
- “The media is ignoring the story completely.” (Singular verb when “the media” is a mass noun like “the press.”)
- “Various media are covering the story differently: Print newspapers seem to be burying it, but TV stations and online sites are highlighting it.” (Plural verb when “media” comprises distinguishable “mediums.”)
- “The media room in the library features a lot of technology that students can use or borrow.”
megabyte—Abbreviated as MB.
menu—Lowercase. Not drop-down menu. Instead, use “drop-down list.”
metadata (n.)—One word.
metatag (n.)—One word.
MHz—Abbreviation for megahertz. Note capitalization. Don’t include a space between the number and MHz.
mice—Plural of mouse even when referring to a computer mouse.
microblog (v.); microblogging (n., adj.)—No hyphen. To microblog is to post short status updates about yourself or about an event using a microblogging service such as Twitter.
mouseover (n.); mouse over (v.)—Don’t use to describe the action of holding the mouse pointer over an area of the page. Use roll, move, or pass your mouse cursor over, or an equivalent phrase.
MP3—Abbreviation for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3. All capitals, no spaces, no periods. Abbreviation is always acceptable. Plural: MP3s.
MT—Abbreviation for “modified tweet.” Used to indicate that you have modified someone else’s tweet (post to Twitter) before retweeting it. Compare MT with “RT (retweet).”
multi—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with an “i” or a capital letter—if it does, insert a hyphen. For example, “multiplayer,” “multi-industry.”
N
net—Do not capitalize when referring to the internet. Abbreviation is always acceptable (e.g., net neutrality).
news feed (n.)—Two words.
newsreader—One word.
non—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with a capital letter—if it does, insert a hyphen. For example: “noncommercial,” “nonfiction,” “nonprofit,” “non-Darwinian.”
O
offline—One word.
offscreen—One word.
OK—All capitals. Not okay, Ok, or ok.
ONEcard—The correct term for a UD identification card is “UD ONEcard.”
online—One word.
onscreen—One word.
on-site vs. on site—”Onsite” has not entered standard style sheets as one word. When used as an adjective, hyphenate (e.g., “on-site consulting”). When used as a prepositional phrase, use two words (e.g., “The vendor arrived on site at 8 a.m.”).
open source (n.); open-source (adj.)—Two words when used as a noun, hyphenated when used as an adjective. For example, “With open-source software, individuals can study the software’s source code and try to improve the product.”
opt-in (n., adj.); opt in (v.)—Hyphenated as a noun or an adjective. Two words as a verb. Examples:
- “The opt-in has been disabled.”
- “Read our opt-in policy.”
- “To receive electronic statements, you must opt in.”
OS—Abbreviation for operating system. Abbreviation acceptable after initial explanation. Plural: OSes
P
p.m.—Lowercase, no space after first period. Include a space between the number and p.m. (e.g., 9 p.m.).
page view—Two words. The viewing of a Web page by one visitor. Advertisers consider how many page views a site receives when deciding where and how to advertise.
passcode—One word.
passphrase—One word.
password—One word.
password-protect (v.)—Note hyphen. For example: “Be sure to password-protect sensitive files.”
PayPal—One word. Note capitalization of this eBay trademark.
PDA—Abbreviation for personal digital assistant. Abbreviation is acceptable as long as context is clear (abbreviation can also mean public display of affection). Plural: PDAs.
PDF—Abbreviation for Portable Document Format. Generally used to refer to files created by using Adobe Acrobat. Abbreviation is always fine. Plural: PDFs.
peer-to-peer (adj.)—Note hyphens; accepted abbreviation is P2P.
PeopleSoft is the correct spelling of the program.
pharming—Redirecting traffic from a legitimate website to a hacker’s spoof website that appears legitimate.
phishing—Sending email that is supposedly from a legitimate business (such as the University or a trusted financial institution) in an attempt to trick the recipient into responding and submitting sensitive information. Other forms: phish, phisher. Do not confuse with spam, which cons you into trying to buy something.
Photoshop is the correct spelling of the program.
PIN—Abbreviation for personal identification number. All capitals. Not PIN number.
pixel—Short for picture element, a unit of measurement.
playlist—One word.
plug-in (n., adj.); plug in(v.)—Note hyphen when used as a noun or adjective. Not plugin. Two words when used as a verb.
podcast—One word.
pop-up (n., adj.); pop up (v.)—Note hyphen when used as a noun or adjective. Not popup. Two words when used as a verb. For example,
- “Get rid of pop-ups before they pop up.”
- “Stop pop-up ads from ever annoying you again.”
PowerPoint is the correct spelling of the program.
Post-it—Note hyphen and capitalization of this 3M trademark. Do not use the term as a noun or add an s to make the term plural.
post—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with a capital letter—if it does, insert a hyphen. For example, “postgame,” “posttrial,” “postproduction,” “post-Victorian.”
pre—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with an e or a capital letter—if it does, insert a hyphen. For example, “pre-enrollment,” “preproduction,” “pre-MP3.”
print vs. printout—Use print as a verb, not printout. For example, “Print the page.” Printout is used to describe the outcome of a print job. For example, “Pick up your printout at Smith Hall.”
print queue vs. printer queue—Use print queue, not printer queue.
printer-friendly—For example, “Look for the printer-friendly version link.”
Procurement Card—Spell out in full.
program vs. application—In general, use program for material written for non-technical readers (e.g., the general UD community). Use application for content directed to software developers and IT professionals. Whenever possible, use the description of a product. For example, if referring to MS Word, use “To create a text document, use the word-processor MS Word.”
Project ID/Grant—Written as shown.
Q
Q&A—Abbreviation for question and answer. All capitals, no spaces. Note ampersand.
QR code (n., adj.)—A type of bar code that can be read with a QR code reader. The code can contain text, a URL, or other data.
QuickTime—One word. Note capitalization of this Apple trademark.
R
RAM—Abbreviation for random access memory. Abbreviation is always fine.
real time (n.); real-time (adj.)—Two words when used as a noun, hyphenated when used as an adjective. For example:
- “Watch the file stream in real time.”
- “Get real-time updates delivered to your phone.”
re—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with an e or a capital letter—if it does, insert a hyphen. Exceptions: re-create, re-cover, and re-sent (to avoid confusion with recreate, recover, and resent). For example, “re-elect,” “reunify,” “resubscribe,” “re-FTP.”
reboot vs. restart—Use restart. Do not use reboot. For example:
- “When the program has finished installation, restart your computer.”
- “Restart your computer to ensure the updates take effect.”
retweet (n., v.)—A message re-sent via Twitter or the resending of such a message. Often abbreviated as RT. Past tense: retweeted. Compare RT with “MT (modified tweet).”
right-click is always hyphenated when used as a verb. For example, “Right-click to access the shortcut menu.”
right-hand side—Don’t use. Use “right side” instead.
ringtone—One word.
RSS—Acronym for Really Simple Syndication. All capitals. Abbreviation is always acceptable, but avoid using RSS on its own, since few people know what it means. Use news feed, RSS news feed, or RSS newsreader as appropriate.
S
Sakai@UD—When referring to Sakai as it is implemented at UD, the correct term is Sakai@UD for all documentation.
screen—Use screen to refer to the graphical display of a visual output device. Use only to refer to the computer screen, not to a page on a Web site. When referring to a Web site, use page.
screen capture—Two words.
screencast—One word.
screen name—Two words.
screensaver—One word.
screenshot—One word.
scroll bar—Two words.
select vs. choose—Do not use the verb select when referring to an option on a drop-down list. Use the verb select when referring to selecting a portion of a document or file. For example, “Use the lasso tool to select the part of the image you want to copy.”
set up vs. setup—When used as a verb, set up is two words. For example, “Open the box to set up your computer.” When used as a noun or adjective, setup is one word. For example,
- “The setup time should be about 20 minutes.”
- “Your office setup should be comfortable for you.”
sidebar—One word.
sign-in (n., adj.); sign in; sign in to (v.)—As a noun or an adjective, it’s hyphenated. As a verb, it’s two words, which may be followed by the preposition to. At UD, the preferred terminology is log-in, log in, log in to.
sign-out (n., adj.); sign out; sign out of (v.)—As a noun or an adjective, it’s hyphenated. As a verb, it’s two words, which may be followed by the preposition of. At UD, the preferred terminology is log-out, log out, log out of.
sign-up (n., adj.), sign up(v.)—Hyphenate when used as a noun or an adjective. Two words when used as a verb. For example, “Sign up for the service” or “Fill in the sign-up form.”
SIM card—SIM stands for subscriber identity module, a card used in cell phones. Abbreviation is always fine.
site map—Two words.
smart card—Two words.
smartphone—One word. All lowercase unless the first word in a sentence.
smart TV—Two words.
social media (n.; adj.)—Treat social media as a mass noun with a singular verb, unless you can distinguish the individual modes of communication making up a use of social media. Social media is singular, for example, when it’s referred to as a marketing avenue (e.g., “Social media is a great way to get the word out about your business.”) or as a phenomenon (e.g., “Social media has changed the way many people communicate”). But when highlighting the individual communication tools that make up social media, treat the term as plural: “Social media—Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and so on—have changed the way many people communicate.”
social network (n.); social-network (adj.)—Two words when used as a noun. Note hyphen when used as an adjective. For example, “Social-network analysis is a key technique in modern sociology.” “Add contacts to expand your social network.”
spacebar—One word.
spam—All lowercase letters. Junk mail, usually refers to unsolicited commercial email.
SpeedType—One word; capitalize S and T.
spell-checker (n.); spell-check (v.)—Note hyphen.
spyware—One word.
SSN—Abbreviation for Social Security number. Do not use SSN number.
standalone (adj.)—One word.
startup (n., adj.); start up (v.)—One word when used as a noun or an adjective. Two words when used as a verb.
style sheet (n.)—Two words; lowercase even when referring to style sheets created with CSS language.
sub—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with a capital letter—if it does, insert a hyphen. For example, “subdomain.”
super—Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with a capital letter; if it does, insert a hyphen. For example, “superdelegate,” “superfood,” “super-PC.”
Student Multimedia Design Center, located at the University of Delaware, is always spelled out as used here. Never use “SMDC” in documentation.
sync, synched, synching (v.)—No h in sync. The other verb forms have an h to make them easier to read correctly at first glance. (Without the h, people may initially read syncing as “since-ing.”)
system vs. computer—Use computer when referring only to a computer; use system when referring to a computer and peripherals or software.
T
tap—The word to use for selections made on a Web-enabled device that doesn’t have a traditional keyboard (e.g., an iPad or a smartphone). For example, to make a selection on an iPad, instructions would read, “Tap Settings to set up your email.”
Taskbar—One word with a capital T. Refers to the bar along the bottom of a Windows operating system.
TeX—Typesetting system used mostly for complicated mathematical formulas.
text box—Two words.
text field is the rectangular box in which you can type text. Type the name of the field in bold text. For example, “In the Password field, type your password.”
text message (n.); text-message (adj., v.)—Two words when used as a noun. Note hyphen when used as an adjective or a verb. For example:
- “He had a heated text-message argument with his friend.”
- “Did you get my text message?”
- “I’ll text-message you with the details.”
Thunderbird is the correct spelling of the program.
toolbar is one word and all lowercase when used generically.
touchpad (n., adj.)—One word.
touchscreen (n., adj.)—One word.
toward vs. towards—The preferred U.S. spelling is toward. Towards is chiefly British and is considered a variant of toward in the United States.
trackball (n., adj.)—One word.
Trojan horse—Note capitalization.
troubleshoot—One word.
tweet (n., v.)—Lowercase when referring to a message sent via Twitter or to the action of sending such a message. Past tense: tweeted.
Twitter (n., adj.)—Capitalize when referring to the microblogging site. Do not use as a verb to refer to communicating on Twitter—use tweet instead.
Two-factor authentication—Note capitalization and punctuation. Can be abbreviated to 2FA after first.
U
UD Flex—Note capitalization of the letter “F” only.
UD ID—All caps, includes a space. Note that this phrase refers to a person’s “employee ID (number)” or “student number.” The correct term for a UD identification card is “UD ONEcard.”
UDelNet ID—Mixed case as shown, includes a space.
UD ONEcard is how the UD ID card is to be referenced.
UD Web Forms—UD’s home-grown forms engine; 3 words.
UI—Abbreviation for user interface. Abbreviation acceptable after initial explanation.
University ID card—UD ONEcard is the proper terminology. It replaces the UD#1 and UD#1 Flex card, terms which should no longer be used in documentation.
UNIX—Always capitalized.
upper-left corner—Note hyphen. Not upper-left-hand corner.
upper-right corner—Note hyphen. Not upper-right-hand corner.
up-to-date—Note hyphens. For example, “Keep your calendar up-to-date.” “Keep an up-to-date calendar.”
URL—All capitals. Stands for Uniform Resource Locator. Abbreviation is always fine. Plural: URLs.
When referencing a URL, if the address begins with www or www1, omit the http:// as follows:
- www.it.udel.edu
- www.udel.edu
- www.udel.edu/udjobs
If the address does not begin with www, include the http:// as follows:
- http://udeploy.udel.edu
- http://copland.udel.edu
USB—Abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. Abbreviation is always fine.
Userfield—One word.
username—One word. At UD, the preferred term is usually UDelNet ID.
V
VGA—Abbreviation for video graphics array. Abbreviation is always fine.
video camera—Two words.
videoconference—One word.
video game—Two words.
videophone—One word.
vlog—One word, lowercase. Short for video blog.
voice mail—Two words, lowercase.
voice mail box—Three words.
VoIP—Abbreviation for “voice over Internet protocol.” Abbreviation acceptable after initial explanation.
VPN—Abbreviation for virtual private network. Abbreviation acceptable after initial explanation.
W
WAN—Acronym for wide area network. Acronym fine after initial explanation.
WAP—Abbreviation for Wireless Application Protocol. Abbreviation fine after initial explanation. Compare with “Access Point (AP).”
webcam—One word. Lowercase “w” because it is not a proper noun.
webcast—Lowercase “w” because it is not a proper noun.
Web conference—Two words.
Web feed—Two words.
Web hosting—Two words.
webinar—A seminar conducted online.
webisode—One word.
weblog—Use only when describing the origin of the word blog, which is the preferred usage. See also “blog.”
webmaster—One word.
web page—Two words.
website—Always one word; lowercase “s.”
Wi-Fi—Note capitalization and hyphen. Abbreviation always fine.
Wii—Note the capitalization on this Nintendo trademark.
wiki—Lowercase. Plural: wikis.
window—The area on a computer screen in which a program displays content (e.g., a browser window).
Windows 8 is the correct name for this operating system.
Windows 10 is the correct name for this operating system.
Windows Vista is the correct name for this operating system.
word processing (n.); word-processing (adj.)—Two words when used as a noun, hyphenated when used as an adjective.
workflow—One word.
World Wide Web—Note capitalization. Note that the short form is now “web” (lowercase “w”).
worldwide (adj., adv.)—One word.
WWW—All capitals. Fine to use as an abbreviation for World Wide Web.
WYSIWYG—Acronym for What You See Is What You Get. Abbreviation is always OK.
X
Xbox—One word. Note capitalization of this Microsoft trademark. Do not add es to form the plural. Use only as a singular noun as in “She bought one Xbox for herself and one for her brother.”
XHTML—Abbreviation for Extensible Hypertext Markup Language. Depending on the audience, may require explanation on first reference, abbreviation afterwards.
XML—Abbreviation for Extensible Markup Language. Depending on the audience, may require explanation on first reference, abbreviation afterwards.
Y
Yahoo! (n.)—When referring to the company, its brands, products, or services, use uppercase Y. Note that the exclamation point is considered a character, not a punctuation mark. Possessive: Yahoo!’s. When referring to an employee or user of Yahoo!, use an uppercase Y and no exclamation point. For example, “The Yahoos went to their jobs at the Yahoo! headquarters.”
YouTube—One word. Note capitalization of this Google trademark.
Z
ZIP code—Note capitalization. Not Zip code.
#
2FA—Abbreviation for Two-factor authentication. Can be abbreviated after first.
24/7—Note slash. For example, “The phones are staffed 24/7.”
3D—No space, no hyphen. Not 3-D or 3 D.
3G, 4G—Types of cell phone networks.
50-50—Note hyphen and use of numerals. For example, “They calculated their candidate has a 50-50 chance.”
8x, 16x—Format for values that denote the speed of drives such as CD and DVD drives. For example, “The DVD-RW drive boasts write, rewrite, and read speeds of 16x, 8x, and 16x, respectively.”
