Re: Word-a-Day: capplet, preference tool



On Fri, 2008-04-11 at 12:26 -0500, Shaun McCance wrote:
> On Thu, 2008-04-10 at 22:45 -0400, Curtis Hovey wrote:
> > On Thu, 2008-04-10 at 15:52 -0500, Shaun McCance wrote:
> > > ======================================================
> > > capplet
> > > Do not use.  Use "preference tool" instead.
> > > ======================================================
> > > preference tool
> > > A small application that allows users to change their
> > > preference settings.  Refer to a specific preference
> > > tool using its title and the phrase "preference tool".
> > > If the title ends with the word "Preferences", drop
> > > this when used with the phrase "preference tool".
> > > 
> > > Do not use the word "capplet".
> > > 
> > > Correct:
> > > To adjust the handedness of your mouse, open the
> > >   *Mouse* preference tool.
> > > 
> > > Incorrect:
> > > To adjust the handedness of your mouse, open the
> > >   *Mouse Preferences* tool.
> > > To change the appearance of the applications on your
> > >   desktop, open the *Theme* capplet.
> > > ======================================================
> > > 
> > > There currently seems to be about equal usage of
> > > "preference tool" and "preferences tool".  My pick
> > > is "preference tool", because I think it sounds more
> > > natural.
> > 
> > I have some misgiving about the use of 'tool', which is often used to
> > produce something, and it is an indirect means to making a change. I
> > think 'manager', 'control', or 'panel' are better words that users will
> > understand. Perusing several appliance manuals, 'control' and 'panel',
> > and 'control panel' are used. The only 'tools' I see is the special
> > wrench used to unlock my sink's garbage disposal, and the jack to my
> > automobile.
> 
> Hmm.  Well, I just went with our current usage.  We don't
> have any current recommendation, but "preference tool" and
> "preferences tool" seem to be what gets used the most in
> our documentation.
> 
> I'm not fond of the term "control panel", if only because
> we don't ever use it.  It would be odd for our documentation
> to see "Mouse control panel" when "control panel" doesn't
> appear anywhere in the interface.
> 
> We could use "preferences window" and "settings window"
> when referring to them generically, but not use any term
> when referring to a specific one.  So:
> 
>   To adjust the handedness of your mouse, open the
>     *Mouse Preferences*.
>   To change the primary language your computer uses,
>     open the *Language Settings*.
>   The *Preferences* submenu of the global *Settings*
>     menu provide access to open various preferences
>     windows.
> 
> Or we could keep the currently common word "tool", but
> still go with the recommendation of only using it to
> refer to thing generically.

These terms sound/read natural. Users have generally learned what a
window is. I think this is a good rule.

-- 

__C U R T I S  C.  H O V E Y_______
Guilty of stealing everything I am.

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: This is a digitally signed message part



[Date Prev][Date Next]   [Thread Prev][Thread Next]   [Thread Index] [Date Index] [Author Index]