Re: Question: When to use Select or Choose?

[Toni Williams TPG/SG <towilliams -at- PROCYONGROUP -dot- COM>]

This is what I was taught many years ago:

Select is synonymous with highlighting and is preparatory to initiating
an action.

Choose is to actually initiate an action.

For example:

        Select the option from the menu.

        Choose the ACCEPT button.

Just my $.02

Toni

P.S.  The MS Manual of Style states that choose and select should not be
used for actions performed using the mouse but rather click and
double-click should be used instead.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beatriz Preece [SMTP:bpreece -at- CSC -dot- COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 6:37 PM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Question: When to use Select or Choose?
>
> Hi All!
>
> I have a question in regards to using Choose or Select in Windows
> online
> documentation.  Our Windows online help contains the verb  "Select"
> when applying
> it to selecting an item from a drop-down list, but  "Choose" when
> choosing an item
> from a drop-down menu.  One of our writers has a Ph.D. in English and
> has taught
> technical writing, she mentioned that every time one uses a device
> like the mouse,
> "select" is the right choice.  When we first designed the online help
> and hardcopy
> documentation, we used Microsoft  documentation standards,  Can anyone
> tell us if
> the rules have changed,  or are we are outdated?  Thanks.

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