Aside from terminology you create specifically for your program, there is already much established, standard terminology that you should use when appropriate. The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications contains a comprehensive list of standard software terminology. While the style manual is intended to be a reference, you can't know what's in it without reading it from cover to cover. Since reading the book from cover to cover is sheer torture—I have done it twice and hope never to do it again—I will spare you the misery and present a list of the terms that I find interesting or that I have made mistakes with in the past. Note that this list applies to user documentation and that programmer documentation (such as this book) might use different conventions.
A.M., P.M. | Not am or pm. |
abort | Use end to refer to communications and network connections, quit for programs, and stop for hardware operations. |
above | Use preceding or earlier instead. |
accelerator | Use shortcut instead. |
and/or | Use or instead. |
application | Use program instead. |
bars | Taskbar and toolbar are one word; all other bars (scroll bar, split bar, status bar, title bar, etc.) are two words. |
below | Use following or later instead. |
bitmap | Use graphic or picture instead. |
boot | Use start instead. |
box | Use computer instead. |
boxes | Toolbox is one word; all other boxes are two words. |
button | Use "click Cancel" instead of "click the Cancel button." |
check | When referring to a check box, use select or clear instead. |
choose | Use click or double-click instead. |
close | Use for windows, documents, and dialog boxes. For programs and network connections, use quit and end, respectively. |
combo box | Use box instead (for example, use "In the Font box…" instead of "In the Font combo box…"). |
context menu | Use shortcut menu instead. |
context-sensitive | Always hyphenate. |
corrupt | Use corrupted instead. |
deselect | Use cancel the selection instead. |
dialog | Use dialog box instead. |
dialogue | Use dialog box instead. |
directory | Use folder instead. |
disabled | Use unavailable instead. |
diskette | Use disk instead. |
DOS | Use MS-DOS instead. |
double-click | Always hyphenate. |
edit | Use change or modify instead. |
end user | Use user instead. |
enter | Don't use as a synonym for type. |
error message | Use message instead. |
execute | Use run or carry out instead. |
exit | Use as a command name only; use quit instead to refer to closing a program. For example, "use the Exit command to quit the program." |
Explorer | Use Windows Explorer instead. |
FAX | Use fax instead. |
field | Use box or option instead. |
file extension | Use extension or file name extension instead. For the actual extensions, use .txt instead of .TXT or TXT. |
filename | Use file name instead. |
fixed disk | Use hard disk instead. |
floppy drive | Use floppy disk instead. |
grayed | Use unavailable instead. |
hard drive | Use hard disk instead. |
his | Use the instead (for example, "the user can change the settings" instead of "the user can change his settings"). |
higher | Use later instead for product version numbers. |
hyphens | Don't use in key combinations; use a plus sign instead (for example, "Alt+X"). |
illegal | Use not allowed instead, except when referring to matters of law. |
install | Use set up instead when referring to software. |
internet | Use Internet instead. |
K | Use KB instead with a space following the number. For example, use 40 KB, not 40KB or 40K. |
legal | Use allowed instead, except when referring to matters of law. |
list box | Refer to by its label and the word list (for example, use "In the Font list…" instead of "In the Font list box…"). |
log in/log out | Use log on to and log off instead. |
lower | Use earlier instead for product version numbers. |
machine | Use computer instead. |
menu item | Use command instead. |
message box | Use message instead. |
mnemonic key | Use access key instead. |
noncontiguous selection | Use multiple selection or nonadjacent selection instead. |
NT | Use Windows NT instead. |
open | Use for windows, files, documents, and folders—not for choosing a command, a menu, an icon, an option, or any other similar element that doesn't produce a working file in a window. |
option button | Don't use in procedures. Use "click Landscape" instead of "click the Landscape option button." |
output | Don't use as a verb. Use write to, display to, or print to instead. |
pathname | Use path instead. |
PC | Use computer instead. |
pop-up menu | Use shortcut menu instead. |
prompt | Do not use as a noun to mean "message." |
property page | Use tab instead. |
property sheet | Use dialog box instead. |
pull-down menu | Use menu instead. |
push button | Use command button instead. |
press | Use click when an action can be performed with both the keyboard and the mouse. |
radio button | Use option button instead. |
Readme/Read Me | Use readme instead. |
reboot | Use restart instead. |
Registry | Use registry instead. |
right-click | Always hyphenate. |
(s) | Do not use to indicate that a noun can be singular or plural. Use the plural or one or more instead. |
select | Use for data, not commands. For commands, use click or double-click instead. |
subdirectory | Use folder instead. |
terminate | Use quit or close instead. |
Toolbar | Use toolbar instead. |
tooltip | Use ToolTip instead. |
will | Avoid; make present tense, if possible. |
Wizard | Use wizard instead. |
While it can be a chore to constantly look up terms in the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications, the second edition has a greatly improved electronic version that makes finding things a snap. I recommend installing the electronic version and its associated compiled HTML file so that you can look up things quickly without having to fool around with the CD-ROM.