Style Guide Word List: Tasklist / Task list (was Re: Style guide feedback (fwd))

["Eugene O'Connor" <eugene oconnor sun com>]

I'd just like to respond to the task list/tasklist query here.

Tasklist appears in solid form at the following locations in the UI:

* The name of the Tasklist applet.
* Labels in the Tasklist properties dialog.
* Desk Guide applet properties dialog (tasklist arrow).
* Control Center > Sawfish window manager > Matched windows > Click Add
> Click on the Other tab (Skip tasklist).

Task list appears in open form at one location: Window menu > Toggle.
(Let me know if I've missed any.)

The solid form is used widely in the UI, in a variety of contexts,
suggesting that it is a current and acceptable term. On this basis, and
given the benefits of using compound words as outlined by Pat, I'd vote
for the solid form of tasklist.

John Fleck wrote:
> 
> On Mon, Dec 10, 2001 at 07:16:36PM -0500, Trevor Curtis wrote:
> > On Mon, Dec 10, 2001 at 02:01:20PM -0700, John Fleck offered:
> > > Is it too late to request that we use
> > >
> > >     menu bar
> > >     tool bar
> > >     status bar
> > >     file name
> > >     scroll bar
> > >     task list
> > >     title bar
> > >
> > > And other standard English phrases instead of
> > >
> > >     menubar
> > >     toolbar
> > >     statusbar
> > >     filename
> > >     scrollbar
> > >     tasklist
> > >     titlebar
> >
> > Is it bad form to use the latter? I don't believe I've ever seen the
> > form of the former.
> >
> 
> The style guide specificies the conjoined forms, which is what
> prompted Darin's note.
> 
> I believe there are reasonable arguments for both. On one hand,
> natural English is better than made-up words. On the other hand, the
> conjoined form allows for more specificity in defining a term.[1]
> 
> This is a specific example of the more general argument about
> jargon. On one hand, using jargon instead of natural English
> obfuscates. On the other hand, using jargon allows more precise
> definition of terms.
> 
> In this case, I think the conjoined forms allow the necessary
> specificity without straying far enough from natural English to
> confuse our readers. I'm happy to enterain the alternative
> argument. This is not something I feel particularly strongly
> about. But at the end of the day the more important thing is that we
> pick one or the other, accept its benefits and deal with its
> shortcomings in the interest of the greater good of consistency.
> 
> Cheers,
> John
> 
> [1]"filename" and "file name" are a special illustrative case, where
> the style guide allows both, making clear distinctions between when
> each should be used for important reasons.
> --
> John Fleck
> jfleck inkstain net (h), http://www.inkstain.net/fleck/
> "A M00se once bit my sister..."
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