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Dianne Phelan ran down the list of key strokers and decided:
>Type "To write with a typewriter." Given under _typewrite_.
> If you view the computer keyboard as successor to the
> typewriter keyboard, here's a verb specifically for the
> action of pressing its keys. How about it, folks?
>In the past, I've used _press_ for a single-key action and
>_type_ for a piece of information, as in "Press the Tab key
>and type your name." It appears that using just the verb
>_type_ might be a better choice, as in "Type the X key and then
>type your name."
Unfortunately, I've seen readers read this instruction:
"Type the X key"
and then type:
THE X KEY
Eeek. (Kind of like "Press any key to continue" and the user looks for
the "any" key.)
I'm still a "pusher" of single keys, "typer" of multiple keys, for this
reason.
And then Diane took a cultural side trip:
>By the way, I've found the best way to explain the action "hold
>down one key while you type another" (as in Ctrl and Alt key
>combinations) is to compare it to using the Shift key.
Hey, excellent idea.
jim grey
jwg -at- acd4 -dot- acd -dot- com
Terre Haute, IN -- The Silicon Cornfield
You can get arrested for pushing keys within 100 meters of school property.
