D Edit

dash

Don’t use dash to refer to a hyphen.

For more information, see Dashes and Hyphens.

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data

Use data as both a singular and plural noun. Don’t use datum.

Always use data with a singular verb.

Examples

Not recommended: The data are invalid.


Recommended: The data is invalid.

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dataset

One word. Not data set or data-set.

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data source

Two words. Not datasource or data-source.

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data type

Two words. Not datatype or data-type.

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debug

Use only in the context of software development. Don’t use as a synonym for troubleshoot.

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deactivate

Avoid using. Instead, use turn off or a contextually relevant term.

See also turn on, turn off.

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decrement

As a verb, use decrement to refer to decreasing an integer count by one. Don’t use as a synonym for decrease.

OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience.

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default

It’s OK to use default to describe standard settings or specifications.

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degree

See degree symbol.

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dehighlight

Don’t use. Instead, rephrase the sentence or use a contextually relevant term such as clear.

See also clear.

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deprecate, deprecated

Use deprecate or deprecated to describe a product, a service, or a feature that would be or is unavailable or unsupported.

OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Instead, use obsolete or a contextually relevant term for a general audience.

Don’t use deprecated to mean removed, deleted, shut down, or turned down.

See also obsolete.

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delete

Use as a verb to describe removing a file, folder, or other content.

Don’t use delete as a synonym for remove. Don’t use cut or erase* as a synonym for delete.

See also cut, cut-and-paste, remove.

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depress

Don’t use. Instead, use press.

For more information, see Press.

See also press, press and hold.

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deselect

Don’t use. Instead, use clear for checkboxes and cancel the selection for other UI elements.

Don’t use uncheck, unselect, unhighlight, or dehighlight as a synonym for deselect.

See also clear.

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desire, desired

Don’t use. Instead, use want or need.

Examples

Not recommended: If you desire to change the color of the menu, go to Appearance.

Recommended: If you want to change the color of the menu, go to Appearance.

See also need, want.

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desktop

Don’t use as a noun to refer to a computer. Instead, use computer, device, or a contextually accurate term.

See also computer, device.

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destination

Use a more contextually accurate term such as the folder name, instead of destination. Use destination as a modifier only if necessary for clarity.

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device

Use to generically refer to all types of computers, phones, and other hardware devices.

Use a more accurate term such as mobile phone or computer whenever possible.

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dialog

In general, emphasize on the task to be accomplished, rather than how the user should interact with the UI element. Refer to a dialog box by its label. If you have to use a descriptor, use dialog or dialog box.

Use dialog, not dialogue. Use dialogue only for verbal interaction between people.

For more information, see Window, page, dialog, and view.

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different

Don’t use to mean various, many, or multiple.

It’s OK to use difference in comparisons. Use different than only when than is followed by a clause.

Don’t use different to.

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direction keys, directional keys

Don’t use direction keys or directional keys. Instead, use arrow keys.

See also arrow keys.

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directory

In general, use folder instead of directory. It’s OK to use directory for consistency, such as when your IDE or command-line uses it.

See also folder.

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dimmed

Use to describe a UI element such as a menu item, dropdown list option, or button that the user can’t interact with due to certain conditions.

In general, describe how the user should interact with the UI rather than describing the state of the UI. Use appears dimmed for describing its appearance. Also include how the user can enable it and interact with the element.

See also disable, disabled, shaded, unavailable.

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disable, disabled

It’s OK to use disable as a verb in developer documentation and for a technical audience, to mean making a function or feature inactive. Use disabled for such functions and features. Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.

Don’t use disabled to refer to UI elements, functions, or features that are turned off or unavailable. Instead, use a more accurate term such as turned off, inactive, or unavailable.

Don’t use disabled to refer to people with disabilities. For more information, see Accessibility and disability.

See also enable, enabled, dimmed, shaded, inactive, turn on, turn off, unavailable.

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disc

Use disc or optical disc to refer to optical storage media such as CDs or DVDs.

For magnetic storage media such as hard disks, use disk.

See also disk, drive.

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disk

Use to refer to magnetic storage media such as hard disks.

It’s OK to use disk to generically refer to other types of computer storage such as flash storage and solid-state drives. For example, terms like disk image and disk partition are used in the general sense without considering the type of storage.

Instead of disk, you can also use a more general term, such as computer or storage space.

For optical storage media such as CDs or DVDs, use disc.

See also disc, drive.

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display

Don’t use as an intransitive verb. Display is a transitive verb; therefore it requires an object.

Examples

Not recommended: The dropdown menu displays.

Recommended: The dropdown menu is displayed.

Recommended: The dropdown menu appears.

Use display as a general term as a noun, to refer to any visual output device such as a monitor or a built-in display on most devices. Don’t use display when you mean desktop or screen. Use screen to distinguish the usable portion of the display from its edges.

See also appear.

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display adapter, display driver

Don’t use. Instead, use video card and video driver.

See also video card, video driver.

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DMG file

Abbreviation for Disk Image. Use uppercase.

Don’t use a filename extension to refer to a type of file. For example, use DMG file rather than .dmg file.

For more information, see Referring to file types.

See also image, IMG file.

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DNS

Acronym for Domain Name System. Use uppercase.

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

See also DNSSEC.

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DNSSEC

Acronym for Domain Name System Security Extensions. Use uppercase.

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

See also DNS.

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document, documentation

Use document to refer to any editable file such as a text file or a Word file. Use a contextually relevant term such as presentation or sheet whenever possible.

For more information, see Referring to files.

Use in this document while referencing in a particular document. Avoid using in this article or in this topic.

Examples

Not recommended: This article lists all the available WP-CLIWP-CLI WP-CLI is the Command Line Interface for WordPress, used to do administrative and development tasks in a programmatic way. The project page is http://wp-cli.org/ https://make.wordpress.org/cli/ commands.

Not recommended: This topic lists all the available WP-CLIWP-CLI WP-CLI is the Command Line Interface for WordPress, used to do administrative and development tasks in a programmatic way. The project page is http://wp-cli.org/ https://make.wordpress.org/cli/ commands.

Recommended: This document lists all the available WP-CLIWP-CLI WP-CLI is the Command Line Interface for WordPress, used to do administrative and development tasks in a programmatic way. The project page is http://wp-cli.org/ https://make.wordpress.org/cli/ commands.

Use file for general uses such as file management or file structure.

See also file.

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DOM

Acronym for Document Object Model. Use uppercase.

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

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domain

In general, domain has multiple meanings, such as in internet addresses and databases. Specify the meaning of domain on the first use.

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double-

In general, hyphenate compound adjectives beginning with double- such as double-layer and double-sided, unless double- is followed by a proper noun or it is absolutely necessary to avoid confusion.

For more information, see Hyphens.

For word usage of specific terms, see The American Heritage Dictionary.

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double click, double-click

Use double-click as a verb to describe selecting most targets such as buttons, links, list items, and radio buttons by clicking the mouse twice in rapid succession. Don’t hyphenate as a noun.

For more information, see Click.

See also click, double tap, double-tap, press, press and hold, select, tap, double-tap.

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double tap, double-tap

Use double-click as a verb to describe selecting most targets such as buttons, links, list items, and radio buttons by clicking the mouse twice in rapid succession. Don’t hyphenate as a noun.

For more information, see Tap.

See also click, double click, double-click, press, press and hold, select, tap, double-tap.

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downgrade

OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience.

Use only in the context of downgrading versions, drivers, software, and similar subjects.

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download

Use download to refer to user-initiated transfer of data or content to a system or device. Use install to describe adding programs, apps, other software, and hardware to a device.

Ensure that you make it clear whether you’re using download as a noun or verb.

When you use download as a verb, describe what the user is downloading and where it is being downloaded. It’s OK to use download as a noun.

See also install, load, upload.

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drag

Use drag, not drag and drop and click and drag.

For more information, see Move, drag.

See also move.

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drive

Use to refer to a data storage device such as a hard drive, optical drive, or a solid-state drive.

It’s OK to use drive after specifying the type of drive on the first mention.

Don’t use drive when you mean disk or disc.

See also disc, disk.

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In general, emphasize on the task to be accomplished, rather than how the user should interact with the UI element. Refer to a dropdown by its label. If you have to use a descriptor, use dropdown.

It’s OK to use dropdown as an adjective. Avoid using dropdown as a noun.

For more information, see Dropdown list, combo box, and spin box.

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dual-

In general, hyphenate compound adjectives beginning with dual- such as dual-core, dual-link and dual-band, unless dual- is followed by a proper noun or it is absolutely necessary to avoid confusion.

For more information, see Hyphens.

For word usage of specific terms, see The American Heritage Dictionary.

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due to

Avoid using. Instead, use because of, caused by, or a contextually relevant alternative.

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