Word-a-Day: checkbox

[Shaun McCance <shaunm gnome org>]

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checkbox
Use "checkbox" to refer to a user interface control that
allows the user to select or deselect a single option.  Do
not use checkbox to refer to toggle buttons, which behave
similarly, but appear as buttons.  When a checkbox appears
in a menu, refer to it as a check menu item.

Unless it is necessary to state that the option is a checkbox,
prefer the term "option".  Usually, you can simply refer to a
checkbox by its label.

The user clicks a checkbox to select or deselect it.  Do not
use "check", "unselect", or "clear".  Usually, you can simply
instruct the user to select or deselect the checkbox.

A checkbox is selected or unselected.  Some checkboxes can be
in a mixed state. The user can click the checkbox to switch
between its selected, unselected, and mixed states.  When
referring to the mixed state in help and support text, explain
to the user what it means and what effect it has.

Sometimes checkboxes may appear in a list view in which the
rows can also be selected.  In this case, the term "select"
may be ambiguous.  To avoid confusion, explicitly use the
terms checkbox and row when referring to selecting.
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I'm preferring the one-word form here.  The current Style
Guide prefers two words.  The one-word form has gotten more
and more common, and I think it's time we embraced it.

The recommendations with respect to selection terminology
are more or less congruent with our current recommendations,
albeit a bit more explicit.

--
Shaun