Recommended word list

To help ensure consistency across our documentation, the Technical Writing team recommends these wording choices.

& (ampersand)

Don’t use & instead of and in headings, text, navigation, UI copy, or tables of contents.

above

Try to avoid using above when referring to an example or table in a documentation page. If required, use previous instead.

For example:

In the previous example, the dog had fleas.

account name

Don’t use. Instead, use username.

admin

Write out administrator on first use. Use admin if it’s the name of a UI label or other element.

allows

Don’t use. Instead use lets.

as of this writing

Avoid because this phrase is implied. The phrase can also prematurely disclose product or feature strategy or inappropriately imply that a product or feature might change.

below

Try to avoid below when referring to an example or table in a documentation page. If required, use following instead.

For example:

In the following example, the dog had fleas.

checkbox

Use one word for checkbox. Do not use check box.

You select (not check or enable) and clear (not deselect or disable) checkboxes.

click

Do not use click. Instead, use select with buttons, links, menu items, and lists.

Select applies to more devices, while click is more specific to a mouse.

currently

Do not use currently when talking about the product or its features. The documentation describes the product as it is today.

deselect

Don’t use deselect. Instead, use clear.

disable

Do not use disable. Implies that disability is a less-desired or negative state.

Instead, use turn off or toggle off.

earlier

Use earlier when talking about version numbers.

Use:

In Docker Desktop 4.1 and earlier.

Instead of:

In Docker Desktop 4.1 and lower.

easy, easily

What might be easy for you might not be easy for others. Try eliminating this word from the sentence because usually the same meaning can be conveyed without it.

e.g.

Don’t use. Instead, use phrases like for example or such as.

enable

Do not use enable. Implies that disability is a less-desired or negative state.

Instead, use turn on or toggle on.

execute

Avoid where possible. Use run instead.

K8s

Do not use. Use Kubernetes instead.

later

Use later when talking about version numbers.

Use:

In Docker Desktop 4.1 and later.

Instead of:

In Docker Desktop 4.1 and higher… or In Docker Desktop 4.1 and above…

please

Don’t use please in the normal course of explaining how to use a product, even if you’re explaining a difficult task. Also don’t use the phrase please note.

register

Use register instead of sign up when talking about creating an account.

repo

Don’t use. Instead, use repository.

respectively

Avoid respectively and be more precise instead.

scroll

Avoid. Use a verb phrase such as move through or navigate to instead, if the context is clear.

Use sign in instead of sign on or log on or log in. If the user interface has different words, use those.

Also use sign in to instead of sign into.

Use register or create account instead of sign up when talking about creating an account.

toggle

You turn on or turn off a toggle. For example:

Turn on the dark mode toggle.

upgrade

Use upgrade for when describing a higher subscription tier

vs.

Don’t use vs. as an abbreviation for versus; instead, use the unabbreviated versus.

we

Try to avoid we and focus instead on how the user can accomplish something in Docker.

Use:

Use widgets when you have work you want to organize.

Instead of:

We created a feature for you to add widgets.

wish

Don’t use. Use want instead.