"Type" vs. "Enter"

[Chuck Martin <cm -at- writeforyou -dot- com>]

Wow, I did a search on the list and didn't find anything. I'm surprised, 
but then I'm surprised at what I just read in the online edition of the 
Microsoft manual of Style:

enter (v)
Do not use as a synonym for type except to indicate that a user can 
either type or click a selection from, say, a list in a combo box.

Correct
Type your password, and then press ENTER.
In the File name box, enter the name of the file.

Incorrect
Enter your password, and then click OK.
At the prompt, enter the path and file name.

and

type vs. enter
Use type, not type in or enter, if information the user types appears on 
the screen. An exception to this rule is that you can tell users to 
"enter" a file name, for example, in a combo box when they have the 
choice of typing a name or selecting one from a list. You can also use a 
combination of words such as "type or select" if space is not an issue.

Correct
Type your password.
Enter the file name.
Type the path to the server or select it from the list.

Incorrect
Type in your password.
Enter your password.


Now this counters what I learned and what I've been doing for years. I 
was taught that "type" is wrong specifically because you can't assume 
that every user will be typing. From vice to handwriting, there are any 
number of ways to enter information into a field, and some ways are 
limited because of user disability.

So I've been using "Enter" for years. I'm even writing a style guide 
where I say to use "enter" instead of "type," and then I go to download 
the MMoS (because I want that to be one reference, in addition to 
Chicago, for people to use when the style guide says nothing) and what 
do I find.

I know, I know, you'll say "pick one and be consistent." But I'm more 
concerned about appropriateness, and to me, "enter" is both completely 
synonymous with and not as limiting as "type."

Friday thoughts?




--
--
Chuck Martin
User Assistance & Experience Engineer
twriter "at" sonic "dot" net            www.writeforyou.com

"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
The day may come when the courage of Men fail, when we forsake our
friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day!
This day, we fight!"
                                                     - Aragorn

"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given you."
                                                     - Gandalf

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ROBOHELP X5: Featuring Word 2003 support, Content Management, Multi-Author
support, PDF and XML support and much more!
TRY IT TODAY at http://www.macromedia.com/go/techwrl

WEBWORKS FINALDRAFT: New! Document review system for Word and FrameMaker
authors. Automatic browser-based drafts with unlimited reviewers. Full
online discussions -- no Web server needed! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l 

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.