i18n, internationalization
Abbreviation for internationalization.
It’s OK to abbreviate internationalization as i18n. Spell out on the first mention.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
For more information about writing for a global audience, see What is internationalization, localization, and translation?.
icon
Use only to describe a graphic that represents another item or object such as a folder, document, or app.
Use bold formatting for the icon name. For more information, see UI elements and interaction.
Don’t use icon to describe options that appear on toolbars, menus, or other UIUI UI is an acronym for User Interface – the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing. elements in a window. For options that have graphics rather than text labels, use the most descriptive term available, such as button, box, or checkbox.
If a graphic is enclosed in a rectangular border, then refer to it as a button. If it is not enclosed in a rectangular border, and doesn’t initiate an action when clicked, then refer to it as an icon.
If an icon doesn’t have any label or name, and you have to use a descriptor, use a contextually relevant term. Describe the icon’s appearance or function and include an inline graphic of the icon. Don’t enclose the icon in parentheses. Use lowercase. It’s OK to use the word icon in discussions about the icon itself.
ID
Initialism for identification or identifier. Use uppercase.
It’s OK to use lowercase in developer documentation, such as protocols or commands.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
IDE
Initialism for Integrated Development Environment. Use uppercase.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
i.e.
Don’t use. Instead, use that is.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
if, whether
Use if to indicate a condition. Use whether to indicate when two outcomes are possible.
If you can affix the words or not in a clause, use whether rather than if.
Examples
Not recommended: The is_plugin_active() function determines if a pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party is active.
is_plugin_active() function determines whether a pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party is active (or not).
illegal
Don’t use to mean not valid or invalid.
See also invalid.
image
See photo.
For more information, see Images, illustrations, and graphics.
imbed
Don’t use. Instead, use embed.
IMG file
Don’t use a filename extension to refer to a type of file. For example, use disk image file or bitmap image file rather than .img file.
For more information, see Referring to file types.
impact
Use only as a noun. As a verb, use affect or a contextually similar verb.
Examples
inactive
OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.
See also dimmed, disable, disabled, shaded, unavailable.
index, indexes, indices
Use indexes as the plural form of index. Use indices only in the context of mathematical expressions.
info
It’s OK to use info as a shortened term for information in an informal context.
initialize
Don’t use to mean start a program or application, or turn on a device.
OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.
See also start, restart, turn on, turn off.
initiate
Don’t use to mean start a program or application.
inline
One word. Not in line or in-line.
in order to
Avoid using. Instead, use use to.
input
Don’t use as a verb. Instead, use a contextually appropriate verb such as enter, type.
In user documentation and for a general audience, don’t use as a noun to mean data or value entered.
For more information, see Interaction verbs.
inside
Not inside of.
install
Use as a verb to describe the action of adding programs, apps, other software, and hardware to a device.
Don’t use install as a noun. Instead, use installation.
See also download, load, upload,
instantiate
Don’t use. Instead, use an instance of (a class).
interface
OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.
Don’t use as a verb. Instead, use interact or communicate.
See also UI.
internet
Use to refer to the collection of networks such as the World Wide Web or a generic network.
Use lowercase. Capitalize only in proper names, such as Internet Protocol.
See also web.
interrupt
OK to use as a noun in developer documentation and for a technical audience.
See also close, end, exit, stop.
into, in to
Use in to when in is part of the verb. Use into to refer to a movement or action taking place inside something, or expressing a change of state.
Examples
See also onto, on to.
invalid
OK to use. When possible, use more specific and accurate terms depending on the context.
invoke
OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.
I/O
Initialism for Input/Output. Use uppercase and note the punctuation.
OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Always spell out on the first mention. It’s OK to abbreviate as I/O for subsequent instances.
Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
iOS
Use uppercase for OS in iOS.
iPad
Capitalize P in iPad.
iPhone
Capitalize P in iPhone.
IP
Initialism for intellectual property or Internet Protocol. Use uppercase.
As an initialism for Internet Protocol, it’s OK to use lowercase in developer documentation, such as protocols or commands.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
See also IP address.
IP address
Initialism for Internet Protocol address. Note capitalization.
It’s OK to use lowercase in developer documentation, such as protocols or commands.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
See also IP.
IRC
Initialism for Internet Relay Chat. Note capitalization.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
ISAPI
Initialism for Internet Server Application Programming Interface. Use uppercase.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.
issue
Don’t use as a verb. Avoid using as a synonym for problem.
italic, italics
Use italic for the adjective form and the plural italics as a noun form.
For more information, see Formatting common text elements.
it’s, its
Be wary of common mistakes such as confusing its with it’s.
The possessive of it is its and doesn’t have an apostrophe. Whereas it’s is a contraction for it is.
For more information, see Contractions and Possessives.
