Definite article in front of button names Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)The definite article usage with objects that have namesDefinite article: Subject verb agreementCapitalising the definite article in namesRedundant definite article?Definite article in front of “nineteenth-century United States”?Definite article with the names of trainsUsing the definite article vs no articleDefinite Article before “Internet”The definite article 'the' before the names of TV showsDefinite article usage
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Definite article in front of button names
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)The definite article usage with objects that have namesDefinite article: Subject verb agreementCapitalising the definite article in namesRedundant definite article?Definite article in front of “nineteenth-century United States”?Definite article with the names of trainsUsing the definite article vs no articleDefinite Article before “Internet”The definite article 'the' before the names of TV showsDefinite article usage
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I am writing a manual for an application. The manual describes how to operate a piece of software. Often I write sentences like:
Press "Compute" button, then change to "Statistics" tab.
My colleague has added definite articles in front of each control's name.
Press the "Compute" button, then change to the "Statistics" tab.
I feel like it is wrong. Since neither of us is a native speaker, we are not sure whether to put or omit the definite article "the" in front of names of buttons. I could not find a rule on the web that applies to buttons and tabs.
What is the correct way to formulate such a sentence: with or without the "the"?
definite-articles software
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
|
show 1 more comment
I am writing a manual for an application. The manual describes how to operate a piece of software. Often I write sentences like:
Press "Compute" button, then change to "Statistics" tab.
My colleague has added definite articles in front of each control's name.
Press the "Compute" button, then change to the "Statistics" tab.
I feel like it is wrong. Since neither of us is a native speaker, we are not sure whether to put or omit the definite article "the" in front of names of buttons. I could not find a rule on the web that applies to buttons and tabs.
What is the correct way to formulate such a sentence: with or without the "the"?
definite-articles software
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
7
Defintely add the article. "Press X button" sounds off. Forget about software, look at sentences like "press the red button", "cut the green wire", öpen the left door", etc. Google may help to convince you. The definite article is used when you specify a specific instance of a concept, so why not use it?
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:13
@oerkelens I agree with your examples. However, for a green wire, green is not its "name", its more of a characteristic. To me it's like"press the big red button". When I say"press the "PRESS-ME" button", it sounds more like"cut the "CUT-ME wire". Is the article still correct in this case?
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:23
4
@PavloDyban: Yes, definitely. "Press Compute button" without an article would just be wrong. You can say "Press Compute", full stop -- but if you want "button" too, it needs an article.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 2 '16 at 12:25
1
Cut theCUT-MEwire sounds fine to me. Alsom see this google result for "press the ok button
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:27
1
@oerkelens: if you formulate your comments as an answer, I'd be glad to vote for it! Thank you for clarification!
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:28
|
show 1 more comment
I am writing a manual for an application. The manual describes how to operate a piece of software. Often I write sentences like:
Press "Compute" button, then change to "Statistics" tab.
My colleague has added definite articles in front of each control's name.
Press the "Compute" button, then change to the "Statistics" tab.
I feel like it is wrong. Since neither of us is a native speaker, we are not sure whether to put or omit the definite article "the" in front of names of buttons. I could not find a rule on the web that applies to buttons and tabs.
What is the correct way to formulate such a sentence: with or without the "the"?
definite-articles software
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
I am writing a manual for an application. The manual describes how to operate a piece of software. Often I write sentences like:
Press "Compute" button, then change to "Statistics" tab.
My colleague has added definite articles in front of each control's name.
Press the "Compute" button, then change to the "Statistics" tab.
I feel like it is wrong. Since neither of us is a native speaker, we are not sure whether to put or omit the definite article "the" in front of names of buttons. I could not find a rule on the web that applies to buttons and tabs.
What is the correct way to formulate such a sentence: with or without the "the"?
definite-articles software
definite-articles software
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
asked Jun 2 '16 at 11:56
Pavlo DybanPavlo Dyban
1162
1162
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
7
Defintely add the article. "Press X button" sounds off. Forget about software, look at sentences like "press the red button", "cut the green wire", öpen the left door", etc. Google may help to convince you. The definite article is used when you specify a specific instance of a concept, so why not use it?
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:13
@oerkelens I agree with your examples. However, for a green wire, green is not its "name", its more of a characteristic. To me it's like"press the big red button". When I say"press the "PRESS-ME" button", it sounds more like"cut the "CUT-ME wire". Is the article still correct in this case?
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:23
4
@PavloDyban: Yes, definitely. "Press Compute button" without an article would just be wrong. You can say "Press Compute", full stop -- but if you want "button" too, it needs an article.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 2 '16 at 12:25
1
Cut theCUT-MEwire sounds fine to me. Alsom see this google result for "press the ok button
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:27
1
@oerkelens: if you formulate your comments as an answer, I'd be glad to vote for it! Thank you for clarification!
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:28
|
show 1 more comment
7
Defintely add the article. "Press X button" sounds off. Forget about software, look at sentences like "press the red button", "cut the green wire", öpen the left door", etc. Google may help to convince you. The definite article is used when you specify a specific instance of a concept, so why not use it?
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:13
@oerkelens I agree with your examples. However, for a green wire, green is not its "name", its more of a characteristic. To me it's like"press the big red button". When I say"press the "PRESS-ME" button", it sounds more like"cut the "CUT-ME wire". Is the article still correct in this case?
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:23
4
@PavloDyban: Yes, definitely. "Press Compute button" without an article would just be wrong. You can say "Press Compute", full stop -- but if you want "button" too, it needs an article.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 2 '16 at 12:25
1
Cut theCUT-MEwire sounds fine to me. Alsom see this google result for "press the ok button
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:27
1
@oerkelens: if you formulate your comments as an answer, I'd be glad to vote for it! Thank you for clarification!
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:28
7
7
Defintely add the article. "Press X button" sounds off. Forget about software, look at sentences like "press the red button", "cut the green wire", öpen the left door", etc. Google may help to convince you. The definite article is used when you specify a specific instance of a concept, so why not use it?
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:13
Defintely add the article. "Press X button" sounds off. Forget about software, look at sentences like "press the red button", "cut the green wire", öpen the left door", etc. Google may help to convince you. The definite article is used when you specify a specific instance of a concept, so why not use it?
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:13
@oerkelens I agree with your examples. However, for a green wire, green is not its "name", its more of a characteristic. To me it's like
"press the big red button". When I say "press the "PRESS-ME" button", it sounds more like "cut the "CUT-ME wire". Is the article still correct in this case?– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:23
@oerkelens I agree with your examples. However, for a green wire, green is not its "name", its more of a characteristic. To me it's like
"press the big red button". When I say "press the "PRESS-ME" button", it sounds more like "cut the "CUT-ME wire". Is the article still correct in this case?– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:23
4
4
@PavloDyban: Yes, definitely. "Press Compute button" without an article would just be wrong. You can say "Press Compute", full stop -- but if you want "button" too, it needs an article.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 2 '16 at 12:25
@PavloDyban: Yes, definitely. "Press Compute button" without an article would just be wrong. You can say "Press Compute", full stop -- but if you want "button" too, it needs an article.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 2 '16 at 12:25
1
1
Cut the
CUT-ME wire sounds fine to me. Alsom see this google result for "press the ok button– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:27
Cut the
CUT-ME wire sounds fine to me. Alsom see this google result for "press the ok button– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:27
1
1
@oerkelens: if you formulate your comments as an answer, I'd be glad to vote for it! Thank you for clarification!
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:28
@oerkelens: if you formulate your comments as an answer, I'd be glad to vote for it! Thank you for clarification!
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:28
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Drop the article and drop the noun categorizer (button). In technical writing, prefer:
Press Compute, then select Statistics from the navigation bar.
Your style guide will determine the specific manifestations of the text, but leveraging markup is more effective than more words, in some cases. The verbs
"press" and "select" imply that the object of those actions is of a specific type.
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
Right, to heck with the button. :) Last time I looked, software didn't have buttons. However, keyboards have keys.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
and mice have legs! jajaja
– Carly
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Use one of:
- press the "Compute" button
- press "Compute"
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Drop the article and drop the noun categorizer (button). In technical writing, prefer:
Press Compute, then select Statistics from the navigation bar.
Your style guide will determine the specific manifestations of the text, but leveraging markup is more effective than more words, in some cases. The verbs
"press" and "select" imply that the object of those actions is of a specific type.
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
Right, to heck with the button. :) Last time I looked, software didn't have buttons. However, keyboards have keys.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
and mice have legs! jajaja
– Carly
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Drop the article and drop the noun categorizer (button). In technical writing, prefer:
Press Compute, then select Statistics from the navigation bar.
Your style guide will determine the specific manifestations of the text, but leveraging markup is more effective than more words, in some cases. The verbs
"press" and "select" imply that the object of those actions is of a specific type.
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
Right, to heck with the button. :) Last time I looked, software didn't have buttons. However, keyboards have keys.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
and mice have legs! jajaja
– Carly
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Drop the article and drop the noun categorizer (button). In technical writing, prefer:
Press Compute, then select Statistics from the navigation bar.
Your style guide will determine the specific manifestations of the text, but leveraging markup is more effective than more words, in some cases. The verbs
"press" and "select" imply that the object of those actions is of a specific type.
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
Drop the article and drop the noun categorizer (button). In technical writing, prefer:
Press Compute, then select Statistics from the navigation bar.
Your style guide will determine the specific manifestations of the text, but leveraging markup is more effective than more words, in some cases. The verbs
"press" and "select" imply that the object of those actions is of a specific type.
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
answered Oct 18 '18 at 23:18
CarlyCarly
1,586213
1,586213
Right, to heck with the button. :) Last time I looked, software didn't have buttons. However, keyboards have keys.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
and mice have legs! jajaja
– Carly
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Right, to heck with the button. :) Last time I looked, software didn't have buttons. However, keyboards have keys.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
and mice have legs! jajaja
– Carly
5 hours ago
Right, to heck with the button. :) Last time I looked, software didn't have buttons. However, keyboards have keys.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
Right, to heck with the button. :) Last time I looked, software didn't have buttons. However, keyboards have keys.
– Lambie
5 hours ago
and mice have legs! jajaja
– Carly
5 hours ago
and mice have legs! jajaja
– Carly
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Use one of:
- press the "Compute" button
- press "Compute"
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
add a comment |
Use one of:
- press the "Compute" button
- press "Compute"
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
add a comment |
Use one of:
- press the "Compute" button
- press "Compute"
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
Use one of:
- press the "Compute" button
- press "Compute"
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
answered Aug 19 '18 at 11:16
romaninshromaninsh
247129
247129
add a comment |
add a comment |
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7
Defintely add the article. "Press X button" sounds off. Forget about software, look at sentences like "press the red button", "cut the green wire", öpen the left door", etc. Google may help to convince you. The definite article is used when you specify a specific instance of a concept, so why not use it?
– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:13
@oerkelens I agree with your examples. However, for a green wire, green is not its "name", its more of a characteristic. To me it's like
"press the big red button". When I say"press the "PRESS-ME" button", it sounds more like"cut the "CUT-ME wire". Is the article still correct in this case?– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:23
4
@PavloDyban: Yes, definitely. "Press Compute button" without an article would just be wrong. You can say "Press Compute", full stop -- but if you want "button" too, it needs an article.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 2 '16 at 12:25
1
Cut the
CUT-MEwire sounds fine to me. Alsom see this google result for "press the ok button– oerkelens
Jun 2 '16 at 12:27
1
@oerkelens: if you formulate your comments as an answer, I'd be glad to vote for it! Thank you for clarification!
– Pavlo Dyban
Jun 2 '16 at 12:28