Bad Words, Good Words, and Word Rules

abort: Instead, use end communications or network connections, quit programs, and stop hardware operations.
boot, reboot: Instead, use start or restart.
Contractions such as can't and don't: Instead, use cannot and do not.
enter (verb): For a selection that a user can either type or click.
log in, login, log onto, log off of, logout, sign off, or sign on: Instead, use log on to, log off (verb), or logon (adjective).
please: Brevity is valued more than empty courtesy.

click: Do not use click on.
corrupted (adj.): Do not use corrupt.
dialog box: Do not use dialog alone, and never use dialogue.
disk: Do not use diskette.
filename: Do not use file name.
hard disk, or hard disk drive: Do not use hard drive, internal drive, fixed drive, or hard disk system.
K as the abbreviation for kilobyte.: It should follow the number with no space. For example, 40K. Do not use KB, K byte, or Kbyte.
MB as the abbreviation for megabyte.: It should follow the number with a space between 40 MB. Do not use M, meg, or Mbyte.
might: Do not use may.
MS-DOS: Do not use just DOS.
multiple-boot (adj.): Do not use dual-boot.
path: Do not use pathname.

permissions vs. rights: A permission is a rule associated with an object, such as a file, directory, or printer, that is shared on a network. Permissions can be assigned to groups, global groups, or to an individual user. By contrast, rights apply to the system as a whole.
Do not use privileges or permission records.
its: "Its" is a possessive pronoun; it's is the contraction for "it is."
open: You open a window, file, document, or folder, but not a command, menu, icon, option, or other element that doesn't produce a working file.
prefixes: Do not hyphenate words with prefixes. For example, use nonzero (not non-zero), nonrecoverable (not non-recoverable), preempt (not pre-empt), subsection (not sub-section), unreadable (not un-readable).
press: You press a key that initiates an action or moves the user's position. (See also enter)
quit: You quit a program (not close, end, exit, leave, stop, or terminate).

start: You start a program (not boot, initiate, initialize, issue, or turn on).
stop: You stop a hardware program. For example, you "stop a print job."
type: You type information that will appear on the screen. Exception: You enter a filename that can be either typed or selected from a list.