Style notes

In general terms, we follow Microsoft guidelines for terminology, as detailed in:
Microsoft® Computer Dictionary, Fifth Edition (Microsoft Press, 05/01/2002).
This establishes basic meanings, spellings and wordforms.

Unfortunately, this has not been updated for more than five years although MicroSoft (MS) terminology changes almost as often as they issue software patches.

More recent glossaries can be accessed through http://www.microsoft.com/resources/glossary/default.mspx.

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Some exceptions are noted below:

We use ie. (NOT i.e.) for "that is", and eg. (NOT e.g.) "for example". This violates Microsoft documentation standards, but we like to live dangerously.

We also use etc. as an abbreviation for "et cetera" (it means "and so on"). Curiously, this also violates MS standards, but you'll find many examples of this in their software and documentation.

Like MS, we use both "System tray" and "Notification area" as the name of the right-hand section of the Taskbar that normally includes the clock. (If anyone's actually interested, there's a whole debate about it [here].)

Overcoming blocks

Rules are always controversial. But all writers need these things to cling to.

The following rules make a good litmus test. In general, if you can understand how these sentences break the very rules they promote, most of the material Phnote> will be familiar to you.

The point of many of these sentences is very hard to understand for those who use English as their second language, but mostly obvious to educated natives.

Writer's Rules, OK ?

These rules are normally attributed to William Safire, "the most widely read writer on the English language".

01. Remember to never split an infinitive.

02. The passive voice should never be used.

03. Do not put statements in the negative form. 

04. Verbs have to agree with their subjects. 

05. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.

06. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

07. A writer must not shift your point of view.

08. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. 

09. Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)

10. Don't overuse exclamation marks !!

11. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.

12. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

13. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

14. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors. 

15. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

16. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

17. Always pick on the correct idiom.

18.The adverb always follows the verb.

19. Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague; seek viable alternatives.

Life

Unfortunately, life and writing are seldom simple, and despite its obvious brilliance, (7,12,17 in particular) Safire's list has attracted some criticism. 

4 is particularly controversial, 5 & 6 might be combined, 9 could be "improved" by putting the period outside the bracket, etc.

Never use a preposition to end a sentence with.

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       Avoid anoying alliteration.

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       Don't verb nouns.

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       Don't use no double negatives.

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       Make each pronoun agree with their antecedent.

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       When dangling, watch your participles.

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       Don't use commas, which aren't necessary.

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       Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

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       About those sentence fragments.

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       Try to not ever split infinitives.

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       Its important to use apostrophe's correctly.

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       Always read what you have written to see if you've any words out.

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       Correct spelling is esential.

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       Proofread you writing.

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       Between you and I, case is important.

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       Verbs has to agree with their antecedents.

George Orwell

George Orwell 1946 reckoned that writers "need rules to rely on when instinct fails". He proposed the following rules. (Slightly modernized here.)

1. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

2. If you can cut a word out, always cut it out.

3. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

4. Never use a foreign phrase or jargon if there is an everyday English equivalent.

5. Never use a metaphor that has become a cliché from overuse.

6. Break any rule rather than say anything outright barbarous.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain wrote (in a letter):

"I notice you use plain simple, language, short words, and brief sentences. That is the way to write English."

Fumble-rules

William Safire, winner of the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, joined The New York Times in April 1973 as a political columnist. He also writes a Sunday column, "On Language," which has appeared in The New York Times Magazine since 1979. This column on grammar, usage, and etymology has led to the publication of 10 books and made him the most widely read writer on the English language.

There are many, many variants of these lists on the World Wide Web. Some clearly began with one list or the other and added new ones as people thought of them. Others may have descended from the same "xeroxlore" that preceded both and circulated throughout campuses and offices in the 1970s.