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# Terminology

## Word choice

Write in Global and Plain English.

- Don't use words that can be confusing for non-native speakers. For more details, see the [A-Z of alternative words :octicons-tab-external-16:][plain-english-alternative-words]{:target="_blank"} composed by the Plain English Campaign.
- Don't use Latin abbreviations like *e.g.*, *etc.* or *i.e.* Use an English equivalent, like *for example*, *and so on*, or *that is*.
- This table summarizes some common words and terms.

| Don't use            | Use                                    |
|:---------------------|:---------------------------------------|
| cannot               | can't                                  |
| ensure               | make sure                              |
| have to              | must (see [Modal verbs](./style-conventions.md#modal-verbs)) |
| in order to          | to                                     |
| in a way             | so                                     |
| need to              | Imperative form of verb (or *should*)  |
| drag-and-drop        | drag and drop                          |
| Who, Whose           | Replace the pronoun with the noun      |
| &                    | and                                    |
| time stamp           | timestamp                              |
| web site             | website                                |
| application          | app                                    |
| check box            | checkbox                               |
| run (an app)         | launch (an app)                        |
| cryptocurrency       | crypto                                 |
| Defi                 | DeFi                                   |
| Dapp, dApp           | DApp                                   |
| MacOS                | macOS                                  |
| Macintosh            | Mac                                    |
| GNU Linux            | Linux                                  |
| Apple Silicon        | Apple silicon                          |
| Intel (processor)    | Intel processor                        |
| Web3, Web3.0, web3.0 | web3                                   |
| DApp or dapp         | dApp                                   |
| avatar | profile picture |

## Status products and features names

Products and names include:

- Status apps features (for example, Status Communities).
- Products and services that are part of the [Status Network :octicons-tab-external-16:](https://statusnetwork.com/){:target="_blank"} (for example, Keycard).
- Status apps features or proper nouns (like the Activity Center).

!!! note
    Observe the capitalization convention. For example, use *Activity Center* and not *activity center*.

| Product/UI name | Notes |
|:---|:---|
| Status Communities | Include *Status* the first time you write about Communities in the body text. |
| Activity Center | UI area where users can review and respond to activity notifications (:desktop-notification:) |
| profile picture | Clickable UI element with the user's picture |
| formatting toolbar | Toolbar showing the text formatting options |

## Status user interface names

These sections describe how to name the different user interface areas in Status Help documentation.

!!! note
    To write UI areas or sidebars, use a bold typeface only for the visible part in the UI. Check the [format guidelines](./style-conventions.md#format-guidelines) in UI elements for more information.

### Status Mobile user interface areas

This picture describes the main user interface areas for Status Mobile.

![Description of the main user interface areas in the mobile app](./terminology/20-0-1-light.png#only-light)
![Description of the main user interface areas in the mobile app](./terminology/20-0-1-dark.png#only-dark)

| Area | Name convention |
|:---|:---|
| A | top navigation |
| B | information card |
| C | [content] list, where [content] depends on the list of elements.</br>For example, *Contacts list*, *Communities list*, and so on. |
| D | action sheet, when the list of actions comes from the Status app / share sheet, when the list of actions comes from the operating system. |
| E | tab bar |
| F | tabs |

### Status Desktop and Status Web user interface areas

This picture describes the main user interface areas for Status Web and Status Desktop apps.

![Description of the main user interface areas in the desktop and web apps](./terminology/12-6-2-light.png#only-light)
![Description of the main user interface areas in the desktop and web apps](./terminology/12-6-2-dark.png#only-dark)

| Area | Name convention |
|:---|:---|
| A | navigation sidebar |
| B | [content] sidebar, where [content] depends on the element the user selects in the navigation bar.</br>For example, when the user clicks the *Settings* option in the navigation bar, this area is the *Settings sidebar*. When the user clicks the *Community* option, this is the *Community sidebar*. And so on. |
| C | content area |
| D | right sidebar |
| E | channel information at the top of the content area |
| F | pinned messages area |

## Icon names

If the icon shows a label in the UI, use the UI label. If the icon doesn't show a label in the UI, use the a name based on the icon's Figma description.

<br>[:octicons-git-branch-24: Contribute to our docs][contributors-guide]{ .md-button }</br>

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