Re: Question: When to use Select or Choose?

["Parks, Beverly" <ParksB -at- EMH1 -dot- HQISEC -dot- ARMY -dot- MIL>]

I like the simplicity of using the same verb for all mouse functions. It's
not the way I do it, but I like it. Right now, I use a verb to match the
object: "select" for a menu item; "choose" for option (radio) buttons;
"press" for regular buttons. (At least I think that's how I do it...I
haven't actually written any documentation in a while.) But why not use the
same term in each case? The operator and mouse are performing the same
point-and-click movement each time. I'm looking forward to the discussion
you get on this one.

Bev Parks
parksb -at- emh1 -dot- hqisec -dot- army -dot- mil


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beatriz Preece [SMTP:bpreece -at- CSC -dot- COM]
> 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 the rules have changed,  or are we are outdated?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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