Apple Style Guide
June 2025
3Apple Style Guide
V 212
W 215
X 220
Y 221
Z 221
Writing inclusively 222
Intro 222
General guidelines 222
Inclusive representation 224
Gender identity 225
Writing about disability 226
Units of measure 229
Intro 229
Prefixes for units of measure 230
Names and unit symbols for units of measure 231
Technical notation 236
Intro 236
Code 236
Syntax descriptions 236
Code font in text 237
Placeholder names in text 237
International style 238
Intro 238
Countries 238
Currency 239
Dates and times 240
Decimals 240
Languages 241
Telephone numbers 242
Units of measure 242
Copyright and trademarks 243
4Apple Style Guide
About this guide
About the guide
The Apple Style Guide provides editorial guidelines for text in Apple instructional materials,
technical documentation, reference information, training programs, and user interfaces.
The intent of these guidelines is to help maintain a consistent voice in Apple materials.
Writers, editors, and developers can use this document as a guide to writing style, usage,
and Apple product terminology. Writers and editors should thoroughly review the guide to
become familiar with the range of issues involved in creating high-quality, readable, and
consistent materials. Apple developers and third-party developers should follow these
guidelines for user-facing text.
You can also view this guide on the web.
5Apple Style Guide
Other editorial resources used at Apple
In general, follow the style and usage rules in:
• Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
• The Chicago Manual of Style
Exceptions to guidelines in these resources are noted in this guide. In cases where
resources conflict with each other, follow The Chicago Manual of Style for style and usage
questions, and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary for spelling guidance.
Guidance on style, usage, and spelling in the Apple Style Guide is based on U.S. English
conventions. For localized content, consult resources specific to the language or region.
Some departments at Apple (Marcom, for example) have supplemental style guides.
For information about the user interface, see Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.
Conventions used in this guide
Modifiers consisting of two or more words are often hyphenated when they precede a
noun, but not when they follow the verb as a compound predicate adjective. This guide
distinguishes the differences as follows:
• An entry followed by adj. in parentheses gives the form to be used when the adjective
immediately precedes the noun it modifies.
• An entry followed by pred. adj. in parentheses gives the form to be used when the
adjective is a predicate adjective. For example:
user-friendly (adj.), user friendly (pred. adj.)
• If a hyphenated compound has no pred. adj. entry, hyphenate the compound wherever
it appears in a sentence.
How to request revisions
If you’re an Apple employee or a registered Apple developer, you can request additions
or revisions to the AppleStyleGuide by filing a bug report using bugreport.apple.com.
Otherwise, you may email feedback to ASGFeedback@group.apple.com. (We regret that we
can’t respond to feedback.)
6Apple Style Guide
Changes to the guide
This version of the Apple Style Guide includes the changes listed below.
New entries
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Adaptive Audio
• Apple Intelligence
• Apple M4 chip
• Check In
• Clean Up
• deny list/allow list
• ear tip
• Ear Tip Fit Test
• Genmoji
• hearing health
• Image Playground
• Image Wand
• Reduce Interruptions
• share, send
• Smart Reply
• SSD
• Transparency mode
• wellbeing
• Writing Tools
Changed entries
• AirPods
• blacklist/whitelist (n., v.)
• generation
• iPad
• M-series chips
• press
• solid-state drive
• third party (n.), third-party (adj.)
7Apple Style Guide
Changes to the September 2024 version
New entries
Apple Account; child’s Apple Account; Managed Apple Account
Changed entries
Apple ID; Apple services; iCloud; Managed Apple ID; sign-in (n., adj.), sign in (v.); two-factor authentication
Changes to the March 2024 version
New entries
Action button; anti-replay value; APNs; Apple Pencil hover; Apple Trade In; Apple Vision Pro; Apps View;
Assistive Access; Audio Straps; battery level; battery life, battery lifespan; cellular (n., adj.); charge cable;
Compass Waypoints; cover glass; Crash Detection; Environment; Environments View; EyeSight; Fit Dial; frame;
Guest User; Guided Access; head band; headset; Home View; iCloud+; iCloud Shared Photo Library; lifespan;
Light Seal; Light Seal Cushion; Live Activities; look; Mac Virtual Display; M-series chips; nonce; optical inserts;
Optic ID; People View; Persona; Private Browsing; push notification; ray tracing (n.), ray-tracing (adj.), ray-
traced (adj.); Ring/Silent switch; seasons; spatial photo, spatial video; Stage Manager; top button; touch; True
Tone flash; Türkiye; up-to-date (adj.), up to date (pred. adj.); view; virtual keyboard; visionOS; window bar;
ZEISS Optical Inserts
Changed entries
Airplane Mode; AirPods; Apple Pencil; AppleTV; Apple Watch; App Store; capitalization; desktop computer;
Digital Crown; disable (v.), disabled (adj.); display (n.); drag; Fall Detection; gestures; iPad; iPhone; laptop; Mac;
notebook computer; pinch (v.); portable computer; product names; RAW; rotate; screen; side button; Spatial
Audio; swipe (n., v.); system on a chip (n.), system-on-chip (adj.); tap (n., v.); via; window
Deleted entries
Camera Roll; display sleep
Changes to the October 2022 version
New entries
Dynamic Island; Focus filters; settings, Settings; System Settings
Changed entries
Input menu; Login Items; Low Power Mode; passkey; Power Reserve mode; preferences; Startup Disk; System
Preferences
8Apple Style Guide
Changes to the July 2022 version
New entries
Apple Card; Apple Card Family; Apple Cash; Apple Cash Family; autism (n.), autistic (adj.); Daily Cash;
Focus; LiDAR; Live Text; man; More button; neurodivergence (n.), neurodivergent (adj.); neurodiversity (n.),
neurodiverse (adj.); notes, Notes; SharePlay; Visual Look Up
Changed entries
computer; Apple M1 chip; Apple silicon; auto (prefix); Do Not Disturb; iCloud; podcast, podcasting (n., v., adj.);
sync, synced, syncing; Writing about disability
Changes to the June 2021 version
New entries
accessibility; AirDrop; Apple Fitness+; Apple M1 chip; Apple News; Apple News+; Apple services; Apple silicon;
Apple T2 Security Chip; App Library; AssistiveTouch; Back button; black box/white box (n., adj.); black hat/
white hat; black/white; blind, low vision; closed captions (n.), closed captioning (n., adj.), closed-captioned
(adj.); color blind, color blindness; colored; deafblind, Deafblind; deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf; disability;
dummy; Forward button; grandfathered, grandfathered in; Guides; handicapped; hearing impaired; impairment;
information card; kill; livestream (n., v.), livestreaming (n.); man-in-the-middle attack; master; master branch;
master-detail (adj.); mate; rotor; rule of thumb; sanity check, sanity test; SDH; sighted; Smart Stack; Spatial
Audio; stream (n., v.), streaming (n., adj.); surround sound (n., adj.); Today View; visually impaired; wheelchair
user; Writing inclusively
Changed entries
Apple Books; Apple logo; Apple Music; Apple Pay; AppleTV+; Apple Watch; badge (n.); blacklist/whitelist (n., v.);
button; disable (v.), disabled (adj.); disclosure arrow; disclosure button; Dolby formats; iPhone; left arrow; Mac;
pronouns; right arrow; Spotlight; submenus; voiceover, VoiceOver; widget; window controls; zoom, Zoom
Deleted entries
banner (replaced by information card); Graphite appearance; submenu indicator; zoom button
Changes to the July 2020 version
New entries
action sheet; Apple Diagnostics; Apple Original; AppleTV+; Asia Pacific (n., adj.); Black (adj.); blacklist/whitelist
(n., v.); CarPlay; device; HDR (n., adj.); high dynamic range (n.), high-dynamic-range (adj.); HomePod; LCI;
liquid contact indicator; logic board; master/slave; Medical ID; onsite; product; recovery mode (n., adj.); safe
mode; SDR (n., adj.); share sheet; slave; smart TV; standard dynamic range (n.), standard-dynamic-range (adj.);
streaming device, streaming player; whitelist; wide color gamut (n.), wide-color-gamut (adj.)
Changed entries
computer; drag and drop (n., v.), drag-and-drop (adj.); iPod; italics (n.), italic (adj.); let; main logic board; mobile
device; Picture in Picture (n., adj.), picture-in-picture (adj.); pointer; pop-up (n., adj.); quotation marks; screen;
sheet; sync, synced, syncing; system; tooltip; type (v.); Wi-Fi
Deleted entries
dock adapter; Hold switch
9Apple Style Guide
Changes to the December 2019 version
New entries
Catalyst; clamshell; country; EU; Files app; gallery view; Gallery View button; hover (v.); Hover Text; inclusive
language; iPadOS; iPadOS device; lid; long press (n.), long-press (adj.); Look Around; Macao; Mac Catalyst;
Managed Apple ID; pronouns; Sidecar; Sign in with Apple; whether
Changed entries
Apple now lowercases internet, resulting in changes to internet, Internet and throughout the guide; references
to the iTunes app were deleted throughout the guide; 3D Touch; abbreviations and acronyms (added new bullet,
“Articles”); Apple Remote; Apple Store; AppleTV Remote; calendar; cross-references; Dark Mode; download
(n., v.), downloadable (adj.); Downtime; FileMaker (was previously FileMaker, Inc.); GIF (deleted pronunciation
advice); help; iCloud; iCloud Drive; iOS; iOS device (in addition, references to iOS device were edited throughout
the guide); Menu button; Personal Hotspot, Instant Hotspot; press; push; Raise to Speak; Siri Remote; they, their,
them; touch and hold; U.S.
Deleted entries
Cover Flow; Cover Flow button; fair language (replaced by inclusive language); Glances; help book; Mac Help;
Peek and Pop; universal app
Changes to the February 2019 version
New entries
Activity rings; Animoji; APFS; Apple Books; Apple File System; Apple Pencil; Auto Exposure; Auto Focus; Books;
Book Store; Countries (addition to “International Style”); Dark Mode; Emergency SOS; Face ID; Fall Detection;
Haptic Touch; iBooks; iCloud Photos; kilogram-force centimeter (addition to Names and unit symbols for
units of measure); like, love; Memoji; Raise to Speak; Raise to Wake; Shared Albums; SIM; Siri Shortcuts; Siri
Suggestions; Tap to Wake; TrueDepth; True Tone; Voice Memos; Walkie-Talkie; watchlist
Changed entries
Apple menu; App Store; dialog; Do Not Disturb; earlier, later; highlight (v.); iCloud; iCloud Photo Library; iCloud
Photo Sharing; iMovie; iPhone; latest; most recent; movie; single sign-on (n., adj.); social media (pl. n., adj.);
Stacks; TouchID; update; upgrade; version number
10Apple Style Guide
Style and usage A–Z
Numbers
2-byte character Don’t use; use double-byte character.
2D Abbreviation for two-dimensional. No hyphen in the abbreviation. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
2K, 4K, 5K, 6K, 8K (adj.) Horizontal screen resolution or image resolution measured in
thousands of pixels. Don’t use a space between the numeral and the K.
The 27-inch iMac has a Retina 5K display.
Apple ProRes codecs support all standard frame sizes (including SD,
HD, 2K, and 4K).
3D Abbreviation for three-dimensional. No hyphen in the abbreviation. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
3D Touch A technology used in some older iPhone models that lets users access
additional features by pressing the display. Newer models use Haptic Touch. See also
Force Touch; Haptic Touch; press.
10Base-T, 100Base-T, 1000Base-T Note capitalization. See also Ethernet; Fast Ethernet
(100Base-T); Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T).
24/7 Not 24x7. To spell out, use the form 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; a 24-hour-a-day,
7-day-a-week support program.
A
AAC Abbreviation for Advanced Audio Coding, an industry-standard audio compression
format. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
abbreviations and acronyms An acronym is a pronounceable word formed from the initial
letter or letters of major parts of a compound term. An abbreviation is usually formed
in the same way but isn’t pronounced as a word. Abbreviations are often lowercase or a
mix of lowercase and uppercase. Acronyms are almost always all caps, regardless of the
capitalization style of the spelled-out form.
Abbreviation: mph—for miles per hour; MB/s—for megabytes per second
Acronym: ROM—for read-only memory
11Apple Style Guide
• When to spell out: If you think your audience might not be familiar with an abbreviation
or acronym, spell out its first occurrence on a page or in a section. In user materials,
spell out the term when you introduce it.
• How to spell out: When you spell out a term, generally put the spelled-out version first,
with the abbreviation or acronym in parentheses.
internet service provider (ISP)
If the abbreviation or acronym is much more familiar than the spelled-out version,
you can put the abbreviation or acronym first, followed by the spelled-out version in
parentheses, or you can explain that the abbreviation is “short for” the spelled-out
version and place the spelled-out version in italics.
You can share your personal URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
An internet address is sometimes called a URL, short for Uniform
Resource Locator.
• File types: Use all caps for abbreviations of file types.
a JPEG file, an AIFF file, the MP3 file
Filename extensions, which indicate the file type, should be in lowercase.
.jpg, .aif, .mp3, .iba
See also filename extensions; file types.
• Pronunciation: If you think the reader might not know how to pronounce the acronym,
provide a pronunciation key.
WYSIWYG (pronounced “WIZ-zee-wig”)
See also pronunciation.
• Articles: Use the article a or an with an abbreviation or acronym, depending on its
pronunciation.
a SAN, a USB port, an FAQ, an LCD screen
• Punctuation: Don’t use periods except in abbreviations for nonmetric units of measure
and in the abbreviations a.m., p.m., and U.S. (see U.S. for exception).
• Plural: Don’t add an apostrophe before the s when you form the plural of an
abbreviation.
CDs, ICs, ISPs
• Latin: Avoid using Latin abbreviations.
Correct: for example, and others, and so on, and that is, or equivalent
phrases
Incorrect: e.g. (for example), et al. (and others), etc. (and so on), i.e.
(that is)
• Units of measure: See Units of measure for detailed usage guidelines.
• Product names: Don’t abbreviate any Apple product or service names, whether or not
the product or service is trademarked or has a service mark.
abort Avoid in user materials. See also exit; interrupt; quit; stop.
12Apple Style Guide
above, below You can use above or below to describe text or an object that closely
precedes or follows the current paragraph.
In the example above, clip B is shortened and clip C is lengthened, but
their combined duration stays the same.[earlier figure]
These sliders mirror the settings of the Levels sliders, described
above.[earlier text]
The diagram below shows a typical network configuration.[later figure]
The process for creating a multicam project is outlined below.[later
text]
Otherwise, use a cross-reference (consult your department’s guidelines about the style of
cross-references).
See also cross-references.
AC Abbreviation for alternating current. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
AC adapter Don’t use; use power adapter. See also adapter; power adapter.
access (n., v.) It’s OK to use access as a verb when you can’t be more specific. Even in
developer materials, consider more precise terms, such as log in to.
Avoid: Access the server using an administrator account.
Preferable: Log in to the server using an administrator account.
Avoid: You can access the internet with your MacBookAir.
Preferable: You can connect to the internet with your MacBookAir.
accessibility Refers to features that enable people with disabilities to successfully use
Apple products and services. Capitalize the names of accessibility features. For example:
Accessibility Keyboard, AssistiveTouch, Guided Access, Hover Text,
Invert Colors, Larger Dynamic Type, Live Listen, Magnifier, Safari
Reader, Speak Screen, Speak Selection, Switch Control, Text to Speech,
Type to Siri, Typing Feedback, Voice Control, VoiceOver, Zoom
See also Writing about disability.
access point Also called a wireless access point. A device, such as a base station, that
transmits and receives data in a wireless network. See also AirPort.
Access Point Name See APN.
acronyms See abbreviations and acronyms.
action A component of an Automator workflow. A workflow is an entire task. Each action is
a specific part of the task (such as opening a new message in Mail).
Action button Note capitalization.
Choose a function for the Action button.
action description In Automator, the description of the selected workflow action.
13Apple Style Guide
Action pop-up menu A pop-up menu labeled with an ellipsis and a down arrow in the
Finder and in some Mac apps.
See also More button.
action sheet In iOS and iPadOS, refers to an alert that appears in response to a control or
action and presents a set of two or more choices related to the current context.
In user materials, don’t use the term action sheet, sheet, or popover; instead, describe
what the user must select or do.
Correct: Tap New Tab.
Incorrect: Tap New Tab in the sheet that appears.
In developer materials, action sheet is OK.
See also popover; share sheet; sheet.
activate, deactivate Avoid; instead, use turn on, turn off.
active Use to refer to the app or window currently being used. Preferred to in front. See
also front, frontmost; in front.
Active Noise Cancellation An AirPods feature. Use noise cancellation in general
references.
You can switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency
mode.
When the fit of your AirPods is right, you experience better noise
cancellation.
It’s OK to capitalize Noise Cancellation to match interface text.
Click the AirPods icon in the menu bar, then click Noise Cancellation.
After the first reference, you can abbreviate Active Noise Cancellation as ANC in AirPods
model names.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation feature a wireless charging
case.
AirPods 4 (ANC) feature a wireless charging case.
Activity rings Capitalize the names of the rings that track your daily activity in the Activity
app (for example, Stand ring, Exercise ring).
14Apple Style Guide
adapter Not adaptor. Capitalize names of adapters that are sold separately.
Adaptive Audio An AirPods feature. Don’t refer to as Adaptive mode.
Correct: You can customize Adaptive Audio to allow more or less noise.
Incorrect: You can customize Adaptive mode to allow more or less
noise.
address Can refer either to an internet address or to the location in the computer’s
memory where a piece of information is stored. OK to use just address for either, as long
as the context is clear. See also email addresses; internet addresses; memory address,
memory location.
addresses (mailing) Use the forms shown here for addresses. To include the country
name in a U.S.-based Apple address, use USA (no periods).
• Apple corporate address: Use this form:
Apple [not Apple Inc.]
One Apple Park Way
Cupertino, CA 95014
• Specific Apple mailing addresses:
Department Name
Apple
One Apple Park Way, MS xx-xx
Cupertino, CA 95014
• Other addresses: For other addresses, spell out elements such as Avenue, Drive, Road,
Street, and Suite. It’s OK to abbreviate Blvd. and Bldg. Use the format shown in the
preceding examples for city and state. Use two-letter abbreviations for state names
(see The Chicago Manual of Style).
adjuster Don’t use to refer to a control that has up and down arrows, or left and right
arrows, to increase or decrease a value. In user materials, use up arrow, down arrow,
right arrow, left arrow, or arrows, as appropriate. For example, Click one of the arrows to
increase or decrease the volume. If it’s necessary to refer to the control itself, use stepper.
See also stepper.
administrator (n.) A person who has administrative authority for networks, servers,
databases, or other information technology assets. Don’t shorten to admin.
To maintain the distinction between professional administrators and macOS users
with administrator accounts, avoid using the noun administrator by itself to describe a
person who has an administrator account in macOS. Instead, you can say a user with an
administrator account—typically, the owner (or owners) of a particular Mac computer.
Correct: To obtain a static IP address for your computer, contact your
network administrator.
Correct: You must have an administrator account to modify other user
accounts on a Mac.
Incorrect: You must be an administrator to install software.
See also administrator (adj.); System Administrator.
15Apple Style Guide
administrator (adj.) Use in macOS to describe the primary account (or accounts) that
can create other accounts, set access privileges, install software, and make systemwide
settings. OK to shorten to admin in server and training materials. Don’t use the possessive
form: administrator’s account, administrator’s password, or admin’s permissions.
Correct: Log in with an administrator account to install software.
Correct: To give a user broad privileges on a Mac, create an admin
account for the user.
Incorrect: Log in with an administrator’s account to install software.
An administrator computer is a computer with macOS or macOS Server that you use to
manage remote servers.
See also administrator (n.); standard user; System Administrator.
Advanced Video Coding High Definition See AVCHD.
advisor, Advisor Use Advisor to refer to a person in a customer-facing AppleCare Support
position, including those at one of Apple’s outsourced vendor sites. Don’t use agent or
representative. Use advisor if you’re not referring specifically to an AppleCare Support
person.
College students can apply to be Apple At-Home Advisors.
AFP Abbreviation for Apple Filing Protocol. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
afterward Not afterwards.
agent Don’t use when referring to an AppleCare Support person. See also advisor, Advisor.
AirDrop Don’t use as a verb.
Correct: You can use AirDrop to send photos, documents, and more to
other Apple devices nearby.
Incorrect: You can AirDrop photos, documents, and more to other Apple
devices nearby.
AirMac The name for AirPort in Japan: AirMac wireless networking, AirMac Extreme Base
Station, AirMac Express Base Station, and so on.
Airplane Mode Note capitalization.
AirPlay Don’t use as a verb.
Correct: You can use AirPlay to stream videos from iPhone to AppleTV.
Incorrect: You can AirPlay videos from iPhone to AppleTV.
AirPods In general references, don’t use the with AirPods. It’s OK to use another article or
a possessive adjective. If you need to refer to a specific pair of AirPods, it’s OK to use the.
Connect AirPods to a different device.
Use Find My to locate your AirPods.
Clean the AirPods you just tested, and then return them to the
customer.
16Apple Style Guide
Use numbers, not generation, to refer to models of AirPods—for example, AirPods Pro 2,
not AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
When you write about a specific model of AirPods, use the model name: Learn how to
clean your AirPods Max. You can use just AirPods if the content applies to any model: Use
AirPods to make and answer calls with your iPhone.
Avoid using singular AirPod; instead, try to rewrite the sentence. If you do use singular
AirPod, use the plural form of the name nearby, and don’t use it in a prominent location,
such as a heading.
Avoid: You can change how each AirPod responds when you press or
tap it.
Preferable: You can change how each of your AirPods responds when
you press or tap it.
AirPort Versions include AirPort, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule. You can use
AirPort to refer generally to Apple’s wireless networking products or technologies or to
refer to the family of AirPort products: your AirPort network, AirPort software.
• Software: AirPort software includes AirPort Utility and AirPort Disk Utility. Don’t precede
these app names with the.
• Hardware: AirPort hardware includes the AirPortExpressBaseStation, the
AirPort ExtremeBaseStation, and AirPort TimeCapsule. You can shorten
AirPortExpressBaseStation to AirPortExpress, but don’t use AirPortExtreme unless
you’re referring to the technology. Use an article or your with AirPort Express. Use
lowercase for base station if you don’t use the full product name.
Correct: The AirPort Extreme Base Station is an Apple product.
Correct: Avoid placing the base station near sources of interference.
Incorrect: Avoid placing the Base Station near sources of interference.
alert (n., adj.) Refers generically to a signal, either visual (a dialog) or auditory (a beep),
that calls the user’s attention to an unusual situation. Visual alerts, such as the one shown
here, provide messages about error conditions or warn users about potentially hazardous
situations or actions.
17Apple Style Guide
In user materials, you can use alert sound or alert message to describe generic alerts.
Avoid error message except in developer materials.
The computer plays a sound (called the alert sound) when it needs your
attention.
An alert message appears if a problem occurs during the installation.
In specific situations, however, avoid the word alert if you can simply describe what
happens.
A message appears when the installation is finished.
alias Use for with alias (not of or to).
The alias for the selected file is on the desktop.
The object the alias represents is called the original item. Don’t use aliased. See also email
alias.
alignment Use instead of justification to refer to the horizontal placement of lines of text
with respect to the left and right edges of the margin. Alignment can be flush left, flush
right, centered, or justified (that is, flush on both the left and right margins). See also
justification.
all-in-one (adj.) Refers to computers with built-in displays, such as iMac computers. Also
refers to products that combine functions such as printing, faxing, scanning, and copying.
allow Avoid using allow when you can restructure a sentence to make the reader the
subject.
Avoid: FileMaker Pro allows you to create a database.
Preferable: You can create a database with FileMaker Pro.
See also enable (v.), enabled (adj.); let.
allow list See deny list/allow list.
alphabet column Don’t use to refer to the vertical column of letters at the right side of a
list in some iOS apps; use index.
alphabetization Alphabetize letter by letter, not word by word.
file format
filename
file server
widget
Wi-Fi
window
For detailed information about letter-by-letter alphabetizing, see The Chicago Manual of
Style.
alphanumeric One word.
18Apple Style Guide
alternate (adj.), alternative (adj.) Use alternate to mean every other or occurring or
proceeding by turn. Use alternative to mean allowing two or more choices.
You can shade alternate rows of a table.
When traffic is heavy, Apple Maps provides alternative routes.
alternating current See AC.
Alt key Don’t use, except when you give instructions for Windows users. For Mac users,
use Option key.
a.m. Note periods: 8:30 a.m. Use a space before the abbreviation.
ambient light sensor Don’t use ALS.
America, American Refers to both North and South America. Don’t use when you mean
United States. See also U.S.
American National Standards Institute See ANSI.
ampersand Use the ampersand character (&) in text only when you refer to onscreen
elements, document titles, or other items containing the character.
Choose Insert> Date& Time.
To allow apps to use your camera, use Privacy & Security settings.
analog Note spelling. Use hyphens in the adjectives analog-to-digital and digital-to-
analog.
and/or Rewrite to avoid this construction.
Correct: document and app icons
Avoid: document and/or app icons
angle brackets Use angle brackets, not brackets, to describe the < and > symbols.
Use left angle bracket and right angle bracket when you need to distinguish between
opening and closing angle brackets.
You can also use less-than sign and greater-than sign for these symbols if appropriate in
the context. See also braces; brackets; greater-than sign; less-than sign; menus.
Animoji Animated emoji that users can choose to represent themselves in some apps. Use
Animoji for both singular and plural.
Choose an Animoji to use in a FaceTime call.
Express yourself with Animoji that mirror your facial expressions.
See also emoji; Memoji.
ANSI Acronym for American National Standards Institute. For guidelines about spelling out
acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
antenna, antennas Not antennae in relation to wireless products.
19Apple Style Guide
anti (prefix) Close up except before i or a capital letter.
antiphishing, antivirus
anti-intellectual, anti-Linux
Exception: anti-replay
antialiasing (n., adj.), antialiased (adj.) Don’t use antialias as a verb.
anti-replay value Use to refer to a random, one-time value for protecting against a replay
attack. Don’t use nonce.
If you’re documenting code that uses the term nonce to refer to an anti-replay value, and
the code can’t be changed, show a code sample to make it clear what users need to enter,
but use anti-replay value in the documentation.
To force a fresh attestation that includes an anti-replay value, the MDM
solution can send an optional DeviceAttestationNonce key.
APFS Abbreviation for Apple File System, the default file system used to format Apple
devices and external storage devices.
API Abbreviation for application programming interface (not application program
interface). To refer to more than one API, use APIs. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
APN Abbreviation for Access Point Name. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
APNs Abbreviation for Apple Push Notification service, the service that Apple provides
to allow developers to send push notifications. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms. See also push notification.
apostrophes Use the curly apostrophe (Option-Shift-Right Bracket) except in code font
and for units of measure. See also plurals; possessives; quotation marks.
app, application, program An app (short for application) is a computer program that
performs a specific task, such as a word processor, game, and so on.
Use app when referring to apps for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS.
Tap a photo to open it in the Photos app.
In most cases, you can use app instead of application to refer to software for the Mac, but
be consistent within a document.
Some apps have versions that work on multiple platforms. To distinguish between versions
of an app, use [app name]for[platform].
Learn about the new features of Pages for iOS and iPadOS.
You can add tracks to a song in GarageBand for Mac.
In general, use program only to refer to software that doesn’t have a graphical user
interface.
The launchd program consolidates all system startup activities into a
single program.
See also software development kit; system software.
20Apple Style Guide
appear Use appear, not display, to refer to items becoming visible on the screen.
Correct: The setup assistant appears.
Incorrect: The setup assistant is displayed.
Incorrect: The setup assistant displays.
In a task, avoid stating that an item appears; if necessary for clarity, try to work it into the
context of the task.
1. Click the close button.
2. In the message that appears, click Save.
However, it’s OK to use appear in a task for information like the following:
The printer icon appears only when there are jobs in the printing queue.
Photos, videos, and any other files appear in a grid.
appendix Use an appendix for background information and other supplementary material
that doesn’t contribute directly to the main subject of the document. In user materials,
technical information should go in an appendix.
Appendixes are lettered: Appendix A, Appendix B, and so on. When a document has only
one appendix, it should be titled Appendix, not Appendix A.
appendixes Not appendices.
Apple The company’s official name is Apple Inc. Use Apple Inc. in copyright notices and
credit lines and in communications that require the legal name of the company, such as
legal documents, contracts, and forms.
© 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
In the text of corporate and marketing communications and in the corporate address, refer
to the company as Apple. You can also use Apple to refer to the company’s products and
services.
Today Apple announced a new MacBook computer.
Apple displays offer a brilliant view of your work.
Don’t use Apple alone to refer to products or services; always include a noun: an Apple
computer, not an Apple; Apple computers, not Apples; your Apple computer’s screen, not
your Apple’s screen.
You can use the possessive form in references to the company.
AirPort Extreme is Apple’s wireless networking technology.
You can also use the hyphenated form.
Apple-approved video card, Apple-certified parts, Apple-designed
templates
See also addresses (mailing).
21Apple Style Guide
Apple Account The account that people use to access all Apple services, including the
App Store, iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime. This account was formerly known as Apple ID.
Correct: An Apple Account gives you access to all Apple services.
Incorrect: An Apple ID gives you access to all Apple services.
People sign in to their Apple Account; they don’t sign in with their account to devices,
stores, or other resources.
Correct: Sign in to your Apple Account on all your devices.
Incorrect: Sign in with your Apple Account on all your devices.
Correct: …on any device where you’re signed in to your Apple Account.
Incorrect: …on any device where you’re signed in with your Apple
Account.
If you used Apple ID to refer to the email address or phone number associated with a
person's account, replace it with email address or phone number (not Apple Account).
Correct: Enter your email address or phone number, and then enter your
password.
Incorrect: Enter your Apple Account, and then enter your password.
If it’s not clear from the context which email address or phone number you’re referring to,
you can use wording like your Apple Account email address or phone number or the email
address or phone number associated with your Apple Account.
You can shorten Apple Account to just account to save space or avoid repetition.
After you sign in to your Apple Account, you can update your account
settings.
Don't use terms like iCloud account, iTunes Store account, or App Store account; people
only have an Apple Account, and they sign in to it to use services like iCloud, the iTunes
Store, and the App Store.
See also child’s Apple Account; Managed Apple Account.
Apple-authorized (adj.), Apple authorized (pred. adj.) OK to use in general references
to Apple authorization: Apple-authorized procedure. No hyphen in proper names: Apple
Authorized Reseller.
Apple Authorized Reseller Use the full term unless many references are required; in that
case you can shorten to reseller.
Apple Authorized Service Provider Use the full term unless many references are required;
in that case you can shorten to AASP.
Apple Books You can use Apple Books to refer to the app and service that let users
purchase, download, and read ebooks.
You can see your Apple Books purchases on all your devices.
To see what’s trending, check the top charts in Apple Books.
22Apple Style Guide
When you refer to the app specifically, you can use the Books app or just Books.
To see all your books, click Library in the Books app.
To search for new books, open Books and tap Book Store.
In text, don’t write the name Apple Books by combining the symbol with Books.
Correct: Get started with Apple Books.
Incorrect: Get started with Books.
See also Apple logo; Book Store; ebook (n.); iBooks.
Apple Card Don’t precede with the or an. OK to use alone or in terms such as Apple Card
account.
Find out about the great features of Apple Card.
Sign in to make payments on your Apple Card account.
See also Apple Cash Family; Daily Cash.
Apple Card Family Note capitalization.
Apple Card Familybrings the great features of Apple Card to your entire
family.
Apple Cash An account in Wallet for sending and receiving payments, making purchases,
and receiving Daily Cash from Apple Card purchases. OK to use alone or in terms such as
Apple Cash account and Apple Cash card.
Use AppleCash to easily send and receive money.
With just a few taps, you can add money to your AppleCash account.
See also Apple Card; Daily Cash.
Apple Cash Family Note capitalization.
Apple Cash Familylets you set up Apple Cash for the children in your
family.
Apple computer Avoid where Mac computer would work. See also Mac.
Apple Diagnostics A built-in utility that can be used to test Mac computers for hardware
issues.
Apple event Capitalize the names of Apple events (but not the word event): Open
Application event, Quit Application event, Open Documents event, Print Documents event,
and so on. See also events, Events.
Apple File System See APFS.
Apple Filing Protocol See AFP.
23Apple Style Guide
Apple Fitness+ A subscription service that provides a catalog of workouts led by expert
trainers. Don’t use Apple Fitness Plus or other variations.
In text, don’t write the name Apple Fitness+ by combining the symbol with Fitness+. Use
regular punctuation after the name.
Correct: Get started with Apple Fitness+.
Incorrect: Get started with Fitness+.
See also Apple logo.
Apple Gift Card OK to use card or gift card after the first reference.
Apple ID Don’t use; use Apple Account. See also Apple Account.
Apple Inc. The company’s legal name; formerly Apple Computer, Inc. See also Apple.
Apple Intelligence Apple’s personal intelligence system built into many devices, including
some models of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. Don’t abbreviate as AI.
Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing
and communicate more effectively.
With Apple Intelligence, you can create fun, original images using Image
Playground.
Apple Intelligence features include Clean Up, Genmoji, Image Playground, Image Wand,
Reduce Interruptions, Smart Reply, and Writing Tools. See also entries for individual
features.
Apple logo In the phrase Apple logo, use lowercase for the word logo.
In text, don’t use the symbol in place of the word Apple, and don’t write product or
service names (like Apple News+) by combining the symbol with text.
Correct: Subscribe to Apple News+.
Incorrect: Subscribe to News+.
Combinations of a product name and logo—known as product lockups—are carefully
designed graphics approved by Apple Marketing. For information about how to use product
lockups and the Apple logo, see Guidelines for using the Apple logo.
Apple Loops Always plural; not an Apple Loop. An open-standard file format for audio
loops and sound effects; also refers to the audio and effects files.
Apple Loops Utility Note plural Loops.
Apple Lossless Note capitalization. The audio compression format.
Apple M1 chip See M-series chips.
Apple M2 chip See M-series chips.
Apple M3 chip See M-series chips.
Apple M4 chip See M-series chips.
24Apple Style Guide
Apple menu When you refer to the Apple menu in user materials, you can include the
symbol with the phrase Apple menu on first occurrence.
The Apple menu is located in the top-left corner of your screen.
If your department uses parentheses around inline icons, treat the Apple logo the
same way.
To restart your computer, choose Apple menu ( ) > Restart.
After the first occurrence, use the phrase Apple menu without the symbol. Don’t replace
the word Apple with the symbol.
Correct: You can open the App Store from the Apple menu.
Incorrect: To restart your computer, choose menu > Restart.
Apple Music You can use Apple Music to refer to the app and service that let users
discover, play, and download music.
With Apple Music, you can stream your favorite music ad-free.
AppleMusic learns what you like and recommends music based on your
tastes.
When you refer to the app specifically, you can use the Music app or just Music.
To listen to Apple Music radio, tap Radio in the Music app.
Open Music, and then tap Listen Now.
Users subscribe to Apple Music and become Apple Music subscribers (not members).
In text, don’t write the name Apple Music by combining the symbol with Music.
Correct: Get started with Apple Music.
Incorrect: Get started with Music.
See also Apple logo.
Apple News You can use Apple News to refer to the app and service that let users read
stories from a variety of news sources.
Experienced Apple News editors curate the day’s top stories.
Apple News learns your interests as you read, and suggests relevant
stories.
When you refer to the app specifically, you can use the News app or just News.
To see the top stories for today, tap Today in the News app.
Open News, and then tap the Following tab.
In text, don’t write the name Apple News by combining the symbol with News.
Correct: Get started with Apple News.
Incorrect: Get started with News.
See also Apple logo.
25Apple Style Guide
Apple News+ A subscription service that provides complete issues of magazines and
newspapers, along with the features of Apple News. Don’t use Apple News Plus or other
variations.
In text, don’t write the name Apple News+ by combining the symbol with News+. Use
regular punctuation after the name.
Correct: Get started with Apple News+.
Incorrect: Get started with News+.
See also Apple logo.
Apple Online Store Don’t use. To refer to Apple’s main website as a place to purchase
products, say something like Shop online at apple.com or Visit the Apple website. See also
App Store.
Apple Original Use Apple Originals or an Apple Original to refer to content that’s produced
by Apple and available from AppleTV+.
With an AppleTV+ subscription, you can catch the latest
AppleOriginals.
Watch For All Mankind, an Apple Original, from AppleTV+.
See also AppleTV+.
Apple Pay In text, don’t write the name Apple Pay by combining the symbol with the
word Pay.
Correct: Find out where you can use Apple Pay.
Incorrect: Find out where you can use Pay.
See also Apple logo.
Apple Pencil In general references, don’t use the with ApplePencil. It’s OK to use another
article or a possessive adjective. If you need to refer to a specific Apple Pencil, it’s OK to
use the.
You can use Apple Pencil to write in any text field.
Find the serial number of your Apple Pencil Pro.
Verify that the Apple Pencil you’re troubleshooting is compatible with
the customer’s iPad.
In most cases, refer to ApplePencil by its full name. You can use just pencil when the
context has made clear that the subject is ApplePencil.
If you don’t see the Pair button, wait for a minute while your
ApplePencil charges. Then unplug the pencil, plug it back in, and wait
until you see the Pair button.
26Apple Style Guide
Apple Pencil hover Note capitalization.
With Apple Pencil hover, you can quickly preview and switch between
different tools and controls.
Don’t use hover as a verb when describing the feature.
Correct: Hold ApplePencil over the drawing area.
Incorrect: Hover ApplePencil over the drawing area.
Apple Push Notification service See APNs.
Apple Remote Use to refer to the remote control that’s compatible with Mac, iOS and
iPadOS devices, and AppleTV (2nd and 3rd generations).
To refer to the remote used with AppleTV HD and AppleTV 4K, use Siri Remote. (In
countries or regions where Siri isn’t available for use with AppleTV, use AppleTV Remote
instead.)
See also AppleTV Remote; Siri Remote.
Apple Retail Store Don’t use. See also Apple Store.
AppleScript AppleScript is used to create a script or scripts, not an AppleScript or
AppleScripts. Don’t use terms such as AppleScriptable or AppleScripting.
Apple services Note lowercase services.
With a single subscription, customers can enjoy their favorite Apple
services across all their devices.
A single Apple Account gives you access to all Apple services.
Apple silicon To refer to Mac models with Apple silicon, say Mac with Apple silicon; don’t
say Apple silicon Mac. To refer to other Mac models, use Intel-based Mac or other Mac
computers.
If you have a Mac with Apple silicon…
If you have an Intel-based Mac…
For other Mac computers…
In content where you frequently compare the two types of computers, you can use Apple
silicon as shorthand for a Mac with Apple silicon.
Create a version of your app that runs on both Apple silicon and Intel-
based Mac computers.
Apple silicon runs all performance tools found on Intel-based Mac
computers.
See also M-series chips.
27Apple Style Guide
Apple Store Use Apple Store to refer to Apple retail stores. After the first reference, you
can use the full name or shorten to store. It’s OK to use terms such as retail store and retail
location; don’t use Apple Retail Store.
Precede Apple Store with an article or pronoun in text: the Apple Store, an Apple Store,
your local Apple Store.
Don’t use Apple Store in the plural or possessive form. For the plural, use a term such as
Apple Store locations or simply stores; for the possessive, use store’s.
To refer to a specific Apple Store, use Apple followed by the store name.
Apple Union Square opened on May 21, 2016.
Products and services are available at, from, in, or through the Apple Store.
Apple Store app An app for iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS that offers users a more personal
way to shop for Apple products and accessories.
Apple Support Capitalize in reference to Apple’s service and support resources and staff;
use lowercase in general references to support.
Contact Apple Support for assistance with your new Mac.
You can get hands-on technical support for your Apple products at the
GeniusBar.
applet Can be any small application, but usually refers to a piece of code that’s attached
to an HTML document on the web.
Apple T2 Security Chip Note capitalization. After the first reference, it’s OK to shorten to
T2 chip.
First reference: The Apple T2 Security Chipbrings a new level of
integration and security to the Mac.
Subsequent references: The T2 chip includes a secure enclave
coprocessor that provides new encrypted storage capabilities.
Apple Trade In Capitalize and don’t use a hyphen when referring to the Apple program.
Use trade-in (n., adj.) and trade in (v.) in general references.
Apple Trade In makes it easy to trade in your device.
AppleTV In general references, don’t use the with AppleTV. It’s OK to use another article
or a possessive adjective. If you need to refer to a specific Apple TV, it’s OK to use the.
Apple TV goes to sleep after a period of inactivity.
Find the model number of your Apple TV.
Make sure the HDMI cable is connected to the Apple TV you’re
troubleshooting.
Don’t abbreviate Apple TV as ATV. In text, don’t write the name Apple TV by combining the
symbol with the word TV.
Correct: Get started with your Apple TV.
Incorrect: Get started with your TV.
28Apple Style Guide
AppleTV+ The streaming subscription service. Don’t use Appletv+, AppleTV Plus, or
other variations. In text, don’t write the name Apple TV+ by combining the symbol with
TV+. Use regular punctuation after the name.
Correct: Get started with Apple TV+.
Incorrect: Get started with TV+.
Users subscribe to AppleTV+, and they can watch content from AppleTV+, on the
AppleTV app.
Correct: Subscribe to AppleTV+ on the AppleTV app.
Correct: Catch up on For All Mankind from AppleTV+ on the AppleTV
app.
Incorrect: Subscribe on AppleTV+.
Incorrect: You can watch For All Mankind in AppleTV+.
OK to use as an adjective: AppleTV+ subscription, AppleTV+ content.
See also Apple logo; Apple Original.
AppleTV Remote Use to refer to the Siri Remote in countries or regions where
AppleTVHD and Apple TV4K don’t support Siri.
Use the Touch surface on the AppleTV Remote to set up your AppleTV.
See also Apple Remote; Siri Remote; Touch surface.
Apple Vision Pro Always use the full name. In general references, don’t use the with
AppleVisionPro. It’s OK to use another article or a possessive adjective: Adjust the fit of
your AppleVisionPro.
You put on and take off AppleVisionPro. When you have it on, you’re wearing it.
Put on AppleVisionPro and adjust the fit.
Don’t run while you’re wearing AppleVisionPro.
In text, don’t write the name AppleVisionPro by combining the symbol with Vision Pro.
Correct: Get started with AppleVisionPro.
Incorrect: Get started with Vision Pro.
Don’t refer to AppleVisionPro as a headset. In most cases, use the product name; in
content where the name is repeated frequently, you can use device.
Apple Watch In general references, don’t use the with AppleWatch. It’s OK to use another
article or a possessive adjective. If you need to refer to a specific Apple Watch, it’s OK to
use the.
Learn how to add a workout playlist to Apple Watch.
Mark your Apple Watch as lost.
Turn on the Apple Watch you want to pair.
29Apple Style Guide
In most cases, refer to AppleWatch by its full name. However, you can use just watch if it’s
clear in context that you mean AppleWatch. Don’t use Watch.
You can pair more than one AppleWatch with your iPhone and then
customize each watch with its own settings.
Always use the full name of Apple Watch models: Apple Watch Ultra, not Ultra.
In text, don’t write the name Apple Watch by combining the symbol with the word Watch.
Correct: Get started with your Apple Watch.
Incorrect: Get started with your Watch.
See also Apple logo.
Apple Watch app The iPhone app that manages settings for Apple Watch. Although the
app icon may be labeled Watch, don’t refer to the app as the Watch app; instead, use the
full name: the Apple Watch app.
Apple website To refer to the Apple website address, you can use the Apple website,
Apple’s website, or apple.com. Use lowercase apple.com in text and in sentence-style
headings; capitalize at the beginning of a sentence or heading and in title-style headings.
Visit apple.com for information about Apple products and services.
You can buy iPad on the Apple website at apple.com.
Apple.com is your source for great Apple products.
See also internet addresses.
App Library Don’t precede with the.
You can use App Library to organize your Home Screen.
application See app, application, program.
Application Chooser menu In VoiceOver, a menu for navigating among open apps. The
menu appears when the user presses Control-Option-F1 twice.
application menu The menu to the right of the Apple menu. The app menu shows the app
name in boldface.
You don’t need to include the word application or app when you refer to a specific
app menu.
Commands for hiding Mail and for showing and hiding other apps are in
the Mail menu.
application programming interface See API.
Applications folder Use the Applications folder to refer to the Applications folder located
at the top level of the file system and accessible to all users of a computer. Use your
Applications folder or a user’s Applications folder to refer to the Applications folder located
in the user’s home folder.
application-specific integrated circuit See ASIC.
30Apple Style Guide
app names Follow the style of the software itself for capitalization and spaces—for
example, TextEdit, Image Capture, DigitalColor Meter, iMovie. In general, don’t use the with
app names (the Finder is an exception).
Correct: Open QuickTime Player.
Incorrect: Open the QuickTime Player.
App Store Apps are available in, on, or from the App Store. Precede the name with an
article in text.
Find the item you want on the App Store.
You can purchase apps from the App Store.
In most cases, you can use just App Store. If you need to be more specific, you can use
App Store for iPhone, App Store for iPad, Mac App Store, App Store for Apple TV, App
Store for Apple Vision Pro, App Store for Apple Watch, or App Store for iMessage. Avoid
constructions like Apple Watch App Store and AppleTV App Store.
If you need to refer collectively to the App Store, the iTunes Store, and Apple Books, you
can use Apple online stores (but it’s preferable to list them).
See also Mac App Store.
Apps View The view on AppleVisionPro where you see your apps. See also Environments
View; Home View; People View.
arabic, Arabic (adj.) Use lowercase when you refer to numerals. Capitalize when you refer
to the script system. See also roman, Roman (adj.).
armband One word.
arrow In user materials, use pointer in general references. Use arrow or arrow pointer
when you’re comparing different types of pointers and want to describe this type of
pointer:
When you click the Text tool, the pointer becomes an I-beam.
Click the Selection tool to display the arrow pointer.
Cursor (as in the VoiceOver cursor) may be appropriate when you describe other interfaces
and in developer materials.
See also cursor; insertion point; pointer.
arrowhead Don’t use to refer to the arrow pointer. See also arrow.
31Apple Style Guide
arrow keys Use lowercase in general references. Don’t use direction keys.
Capitalize and use the complete name of each arrow key when you refer to it by name.
Correct: Use the arrow keys to move the insertion point from cell to cell.
Incorrect: Use the Arrow keys to move the insertion point from cell to
cell.
Correct: Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to scroll through the
document.
Incorrect: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to scroll through the
document.
Correct: Press the Left Arrow key.
Incorrect: Press the Left arrow key.
ASCII Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. For guidelines
about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Asia Pacific (n., adj.) Don’t list Japan separately; Asia Pacific includes Japan.
Correct: To see a list of banks in Asia Pacific that support ApplePay…
Incorrect: To see a list of banks in Asia Pacific and Japan that support
ApplePay…
ASIC Acronym for application-specific integrated circuit. Note hyphen in the spelled-out
version. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Ask to Buy A feature of Family Sharing that allows the family organizer to control family
members’ purchases. Don’t enclose the name in quotation marks.
Ask to Buy is available for any family member under age 18.
See also Family Sharing.
aspect ratio The ratio of an image’s width to its height. Use a colon in aspect ratios.
4:3, 16:9
Assistant Capitalize, and don’t use the, when the word is part of a full name.
Use AirPort Setup Assistant to…
Use lowercase when you use the term by itself or generically.
Use the assistant to…
You can use assistants to…
Assistive Access A feature that makes it easier for people with cognitive disabilities to use
iPhone independently. Use trusted supporter to refer to the person who sets up Assistive
Access.
A trusted supporter can help set up and personalize Assistive Access
for the person who will be using it.
You enter and exit Assistive Access; you don’t start, open, quit, or leave it.
32Apple Style Guide
AssistiveTouch One word.
assure Don’t use when you mean ensure. Assure means to state positively, so as to
remove doubt.
Assure customers that you’ll resolve the issue.
See also ensure, insure.
asynchronous progress indicator In developer materials, the progress indicator that
looks like a spinning gear. In user materials, use progress indicator and describe what it
looks like.
Developer materials: Don’t use the asynchronous progress indicator for
processes that start out indeterminate but could become determinate.
User materials: A progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear)
appears.
See also indeterminate progress bar.
attach Don’t use to mean connect (as in Connect the USB device to your computer).
audio Close up the following words beginning with audio:
audiobook, audiocassette, audiotape, audiovisual
Don’t use a hyphen in compound adjectives that include audio: audio editing app.
audio CD Not CD audio disc.
audio chat, audio chatting (n., v., adj.) OK to use audio conference or audio chat.
audio conference, audio conferencing (n., v., adj.) OK to use audio conference or
audio chat.
audio file Use audio file or simply audio to refer to the source audio material imported into
an app such as GarageBand or Final Cut Pro.
audio input, audio input/output, audio output (n., adj.) You can shorten to audio in, audio
in/out, and audio out. Types of audio input/output include audio line in, audio line out,
analog audio, and optical digital audio (or optical audio).
Audio Straps Use to refer to the side straps on AppleVisionPro that contain the speakers.
Audio Units Always plural; not Audio Unit. In user materials, use only as an adjective (the
Audio Units format).
You can install third-party Audio Units filters.
GarageBand automates Audio Units instruments and effects.
audio/video Refers to equipment and apps that deal with sound and sight. The term can
be abbreviated as AV or A/V: A/V receiver, A/V equipment, Apple Composite AV Cable.
33Apple Style Guide
authenticate, authorize Apple devices and services authenticate users to confirm their
identity.
Signing in with AppleConnect authenticates your identity and gives you
access to Apple’s internal apps and services.
Users authorize payments using methods such as a passcode. Users also authorize or
deauthorize computers and devices. Banks and merchants authorize transactions when
they confirm that the customer has the funds to pay for a purchase.
To prevent unauthorized purchases, use Screen Time settings.
To play some iTunes Store purchases, you must authorize your
computer.
See also code, passcode.
autism (n.), autistic (adj.) Use autism when referring to the autism spectrum.
Find resources about autism.
Use autistic when referring to individuals who identify as being on the autism spectrum.
Every autistic person is unique.
It’s OK to use on the autism spectrum or on the spectrum; avoid using autism spectrum
disorder or ASD unless you’re writing specifically about a medical diagnosis. Avoid saying
that people have symptoms of autism; instead, use traits.
Don’t use high-functioning or low-functioning or describe autism as mild or severe;
instead, describe the level of support that enables an autistic person to be successful.
See also neurodivergence (n.), neurodivergent (adj.); neurodiversity (n.), neurodiverse
(adj.); Writing about disability.
auto (prefix) Close up except before o.
autoanswer, autoconfiguration, autosync
auto-oxidation
See also prefixes.
Auto Exposure An iOS camera feature. Use autoexposure to refer to automatic exposure in
general.
AutoFill The Safari feature. Use autofill for the verb.
If you don’t want Safari to autofill your information, turn off AutoFill in
Safari settings.
Auto Focus An iOS camera feature. Use autofocus to refer to automatic focusing in
general.
autoplay, Autoplay The feature is lowercase; the button name is capitalized.
autosave Use only as an adjective (the autosave feature). Don’t use as a verb.
Correct: Pages saves your changes automatically.
Incorrect: Pages autosaves your changes.
34Apple Style Guide
autosync (n., v., adj.) Note spelling.
Auto Unlock Use only as the feature name; don’t use as a verb.
Correct: When Auto Unlock is on, you can unlock your Mac with your
Apple Watch.
Incorrect: You can use your Apple Watch to Auto Unlock your Mac when
you wake it.
AVCHD Abbreviation for Advanced Video Coding High Definition, a high-definition digital
video format for recording and playback. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
B
Back button Use to refer to a button—usually in a toolbar or navigation bar—that lets users
return to the previous screen or webpage.
See also left arrow.
back end (n.), back-end (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
backlight (n.), backlit (adj.) One word.
back panel Two words.
backslash Use backslash to describe this character: \. See also slash.
backspace (n., v., adj.) One word.
Backspace key A key on Windows keyboards that’s equivalent to the Delete key on a Mac
keyboard.
backup (n., adj.), back up (v.) One word except as a verb; no hyphen.
backward (adv.) Not backwards when you refer to direction. But in certain other contexts,
such as putting a card in backwards, it’s OK to use backwards.
backward compatibility Not backwards compatibility.
backward-compatible (adj.) Note hyphenation.
badge (n.) A small icon, or a small graphic with text, that appears as an overlay on an app
or toolbar icon, a file thumbnail, or other UI element to provide information about the item
at a glance.
35Apple Style Guide
You can use badge to describe any of the following:
• A counter: Usually a red oval with a numeral that indicates the number of active or
available items in an app (for example, new email or text messages), available updates,
and so on.
A badge indicates the number of unread messages:
• An indicator of an item’s type or state: For example, in Photos, a photo can have a
badge that indicates it’s a Live Photo.
A Live Photo has this badge in the top-left corner:
• A warning: An exclamation point on an app icon that indicates an issue that requires
attention.
If there’s a problem, a badge with an exclamation point appears on the
app icon:
Don’t use badge as a verb or badged as an adjective. An item has a badge, or a badge
appears on an item.
bandwidth One word.
based Use a hyphen in compound adjectives that include based when they precede
a noun.
application-based services, Windows-based computer
Use an en dash (Option-Hyphen) if based follows a term with two or more words.
Windows XP–based computer
Don’t use a hyphen or an en dash in predicate adjectives that include based.
Each track in a sequence is assigned an index value that is zero based.
base station A device that transmits and receives data in a wireless network; also called
access point, wireless access point, or wireless router. Capitalize in product names:
AirPortExpressBaseStation, AirPortExtremeBaseStation. See also AirPort.
36Apple Style Guide
batteries Describe batteries in terms of the number required, size, and type.
lithium-ion battery, lithium polymer battery
eight AAA alkaline batteries
one AA rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery
two nickel-metal-hydride batteries
Abbreviate the battery type only if space is limited. Abbreviations include the following:
NiCd (nickel-cadmium)
Li (lithium), Li-ion (lithium-ion)
NiMH (nickel-metal-hydride)
battery level Use to refer to the amount of power remaining in a device’s battery. Don’t
use power level or battery charge level.
Check the battery level of your iPhone.
You can use battery percentage to refer to the battery level when it’s depicted as a specific
percentage on the screen.
You can display the battery percentage in the status bar.
battery life, battery lifespan Use battery life to refer to the amount of time a device runs
before it needs to be recharged. Use numerals when referring to battery life (up to 8 hours
of battery life, up to an 8-hour battery life).
Use battery lifespan to refer to the amount of time a battery lasts until it needs to be
replaced (learn about ways to maximize your battery’s lifespan).
because See since, because.
below See above, below.
beta (n., adj.) A prerelease version of software or hardware. Capitalize when part of a
proper name.
Apple will give users a peek at the new app by releasing a public beta.
Apple has released a beta version of the next iOS.
Developers can now join the Apple Beta Software Program.
bidirectional (adj.) Use to refer to a script system in which text is generally flush right and
most characters are written from right to left, but some text is written from left to right as
well. Arabic and Hebrew are the only bidirectional script systems in widespread use. See
also mixed-directional (adj.).
37Apple Style Guide
bit (n., adj.) Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of computer data. A bit has a single
binary value, either 0 or 1. Don’t use when you mean pixel or dot. Hyphenate when used as
an adjective or a predicate adjective.
The exported file uses 32 bits per pixel.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station provides 40-bit and 128-bit
encryption.
Broadcast video is generally 24-bit, with 8 bits of color information per
channel.
See also dot (n.); pixel.
bit depth The number of bits used by a digital device. Use instead of bit resolution.
bitmap, bitmapping (n.), bitmap, bitmapped (adj.) You can use either bitmap font or
bitmapped font, but be consistent.
bit rate Two words.
bit resolution Don’t use; use bit depth. See also bit depth.
bit/s Abbreviation for bits per second. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
bits per second See bit/s.
Black (adj.) Capitalize when referring to ethnicity or cultural identity.
Learn about Black leaders who have shaped the world.
black-and-white (adj.), black and white (pred. adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
You can change a color picture to a black-and-white picture.
With Photos, you can change a picture to black and white.
For displays, monochrome is usually more appropriate because it encompasses amber and
black, green and black, and so on.
black box/white box (n., adj.) Avoid using to refer to a type of device or system, or a
method of testing. For black box, use closed, closed box, opaque, or other alternatives; for
white box, use open, open box, clear, transparent, or other alternatives.
Correct: Use a mix of closed and open testing.
Incorrect: Use a mix of black box and white box testing.
Correct: Treat the container as opaque.
Incorrect: Treat the container as a black box.
black hat/white hat Don’t use to describe a type of hacker. Instead of black hat hacker,
use malicious hacker or unethical hacker; for white hat hacker, use approved hacker or
ethical hacker.
38Apple Style Guide
blacklist/whitelist (n., v.) Don’t use. Use an alternative that’s appropriate to the context,
such as deny list/allow list, deny list/permit list, unapproved list/approved list, or reject list/
accept list.
Correct: To allow incoming email from an address, add the address to
your server’s allow list.
Incorrect: To allow incoming email from an address, add the address to
your server’s whitelist.
If the terms blacklist and whitelist are used in code you’re documenting and the code
can’t be changed, show a code sample to make it clear what users need to enter, but use
alternative terms in the documentation.
To add an address to the allow list, enter the following command:
whitelist add.
See also deny list/allow list.
black/white Don’t use black or white in a way that has a positive or negative connotation.
Use only to describe the color of items (black text on a white background, change a color
photo to black and white, the white point of your display).
See also black box/white box (n., adj.); black hat/white hat; blacklist/whitelist (n., v.).
blank character Don’t use; use space character. See also space character.
blind, low vision To refer to people with vision loss, you can say a person who is blind, a
person who has low vision, a person who is blind or has low vision, people who are blind or
have low vision.
People who are blind or have low vision can use VoiceOver to navigate
their devices.
If you have low vision, you can use Larger Dynamic Type to make text on
your iPhone larger and easier to read.
Avoid visually impaired.
See also deafblind, Deafblind; impairment; Writing about disability.
blinking Use to describe the insertion point. Don’t use flashing for this purpose.
Blue appearance An appearance available in macOS.
Bluetooth Don’t use Bluetooth as a noun.
Correct: If your computer didn’t come with an internal Bluetooth
module, you can have one installed by an Apple Authorized Service
Provider.
Correct: Your computer can connect to and transfer information to
devices that use Bluetooth wireless technology.
Incorrect: Your computer can connect to devices that use Bluetooth.
Don’t use a hyphen with Bluetooth.
Correct: Bluetooth enabled device
Incorrect: Bluetooth-enabled device
39Apple Style Guide
Blu-ray A high-capacity optical disc format, also referred to as Blu-ray Disc (BD).
Capitalize Disc only when referring to the format. Use lowercase when referring to
individual discs.
You can create Blu-ray video and audio files and burn them to a Blu-
raydisc.
board Don’t use when you mean card. A board is built in; a card can be removed by the
user. See also card.
bookmark (n., v., adj.) One word.
Books See Apple Books.
Book Store In most cases, simply use Apple Books to refer to the service that lets users
purchase, download, and read ebooks.
You can find the user guide on Apple Books.
Family members can share items they purchased from the App Store,
the iTunes Store, and Apple Books.
If you need to differentiate the store from the app, you can use the Book Store, the store in
Apple Books, or the Book Store in Apple Books.
You can search for new books in the Book Store.
Your library contains all the books you’ve purchased from the store in
Apple Books.
Check out the Book Store in Apple Books to find recommendations for
you.
Don’t use Apple Books store, Apple Books Store, Apple Book Store, or Apple Bookstore.
Items are available in, on, or from the Book Store.
See also Apple Books.
Boolean (adj.) Note capitalization.
boot Don’t use for start up or switch on except in server materials. In materials written for
new users, however, you may want to mention the term boot or include it in the glossary
because users may see the term elsewhere.
boot chime Don’t use for the chord heard during a successful startup sequence. Use
startup sound.
boot disk Don’t use except in server materials. Instead, use startup disk.
bot Short for robot. An app that performs automated tasks, especially tasks that are
repetitive.
You can set up a bot to perform integrations of your app each time a
change is committed to your source repository.
See also chatbot.
bottommost One word.
40Apple Style Guide
box Don’t use dialog box; use dialog. See also dialog.
bps Don’t use as the abbreviation for bits per second. Use bit/s.
braces Use braces, not curly brackets, to describe these symbols: { }.
When you need to distinguish between the opening and closing braces, use left brace and
right brace.
brackets Use brackets, not square brackets, to describe these symbols: [ ]. Don’t use
brackets when you mean angle brackets (< >).
When you need to distinguish between the opening and closing brackets, use left bracket
and right bracket.
braille Note lowercase.
bridge Don’t use interchangeably with router. See also router.
broadband (n., adj.) One word.
browsable Not browseable.
browse (v.) It’s OK to use browse as either a transitive verb (browse the web) or an
intransitive verb (browse through a website).
buddy list Two words.
bug Avoid; use problem, condition, issue, or situation instead.
build-to-order Not built-to-order. Always use as an adjective (your build-to-order
computer). Don’t abbreviate as BTO.
built-in (adj.), built in (pred. adj.), built into (pred. adj.) In headings that use title-style
capitalization, don’t capitalize in (exception to the rule of capitalizing the second word of a
hyphenated compound).
Built-in Apps on Your MacBook [heading]
You can use the built-in microphone or an external microphone.
Mac Pro has 512 GB of flash storage built in.
Two-factor authentication is built into iOS 9 and later.
built-in disk drive You can use built-in disk drive, built-in drive, or internal disk drive.
built-in graphics card Use to describe graphics cards that are installed at the factory.
Don’t use onboard graphics card.
bullet Use bullet, not dot, for the character that precedes an item in a list. See also dot
(n.).
bundle, bundled Refers to a collection of products or to products included with a
computer. It’s preferable to use a term such as included or comes with. Don’t use
prebundled.
In developer materials, a bundle is also a special type of directory that stores the code of
applications and plug-ins in a file package that appears as a single file in the Finder.
41Apple Style Guide
burn You burn files on a disc or to a disc, but not onto a disc. You can also burn a disc.
You can burn your photos on a CD.
Select the playlists you want to burn to a CD.
If you have a SuperDrive, you can burn DVDs.
See also write.
bus, buses Note spelling of plural. In materials for audio technology, you can use busses
for the plural, but be consistent in all materials for a particular product.
bus-powered, self-powered In user materials, try to avoid when indicating whether
devices draw power from a power cord or from another USB device. When possible,
describe the device; don’t give it a label.
Correct: a device that plugs into an electrical outlet
Incorrect: a self-powered device
Correct: a device that gets its power from another USB device
Incorrect: a bus-powered device
button Buttons initiate an action when clicked, tapped, or pressed. You click or tap an
onscreen button.
You press a mechanical button.
Press and hold the TV button .
• Buttons with text labels: In general, write the names of buttons exactly as they appear
onscreen. If the button’s name uses sentence-style capitalization, enclose the name in
quotation marks.
Click the “Position on screen” button.
If the button’s name uses title-style capitalization, don’t enclose the name in quotation
marks, even if one of the words is lowercase.
Tap Add to Favorites.
If a button name uses all capital letters or all lowercase letters, use title-style
capitalization when writing the button name.
42Apple Style Guide
• Buttons that display icons or images: If an element in the user interface acts like a
button (initiates an action when clicked or tapped), call it a button, even if it displays an
icon or an image. For example, the following interface elements are buttons:
For some buttons with icons, you can simply refer to the button by what it looks like
(use lowercase):
Exception: Sometimes app icons act like buttons—for example, icons in the macOS Dock
or on the iOS Home Screen—but they’re still referred to as icons (Click the Safari icon in
the Dock, tap the Mail icon on the Home Screen).
See also checkbox; click; icon; More button; radio button; tab; tap (n., v.).
C
cable Use cable to describe what physically connects two pieces of hardware. Don’t use
cabling even when you mean cable collectively; use cables. See also cord.
cache (n., v.), cached (v., adj.), caching (n., v.) Note spelling. See also level 2 cache,
level 3 cache.
calendar When you need to refer to a specific type of calendar, use Gregorian calendar
to refer to the calendar used in Europe and the Western Hemisphere. Use Islamic calendar
to refer to the lunar calendar used in predominantly Muslim countries or regions. Other
calendar names are Buddhist, Hebrew, and Japanese.
Calendar Capitalize when referring to the app name: You can import your data into
Calendar. Use lowercase to refer to a user’s calendar: add events to your calendar, create
calendars for work and home. See also iCloud.
callouts Use a callout (a short text label with a line that points to part of a figure) when
you need to identify something within a figure. A thin line without an arrowhead, known as
a leader line, connects the text label to what it identifies within the figure.
• Simplicity: Use callouts freely when they’re really necessary, but keep in mind that too
many callouts can be distracting to the reader. Keep callouts brief, both for clarity and
for an uncluttered look.
• Capitalization and punctuation: Use sentence-style capitalization. Use a period for a
complete sentence and no ending punctuation for a sentence fragment. It’s OK to have
a mixture of complete sentences and fragments in one illustration.
43Apple Style Guide
camcorder Use to refer to a video camera and recording device combined in one unit.
Don’t use video camera when you mean camcorder.
Correct: You can connect a camcorder to your computer to import your
video footage.
Incorrect: You can connect a video camera to your computer to import
your video footage.
Because most camcorders are now digital, it usually isn’t necessary to include the word
digital, but you can use digital camcorder if the context requires it.
Today’s digital camcorders provide many advantages over their older
analog counterparts.
In general references, it’s OK to use camera.
You can use the stabilization feature in FinalCutPro to correct shaky
camera movement.
See also video camera.
canceled (v.), canceling (v.), cancellation (n.) Use one l for the verb cancel—for example
canceled, canceling. Use two l’s for the noun cancellation.
can, might, may Use can to express the capacity to do something; use might or may to
suggest the possibility of doing something; use may to express permission.
You can log in to your account from another computer.
You might be able to connect to the internet at a nearby hotspot.
You may borrow my iPad if you return it tomorrow.
When used to express possibility, might typically suggests lower probability than may.
If the issue persists, you may need to restart your computer or you
might need to restore software.
capability If possible, avoid capability when you discuss features of software or hardware.
Reword in terms of what the user can do with the feature.
Correct: With Photos, you can create slideshows.
Incorrect: Photos has the capability to create slideshows.
capitalization Two styles of capitalization are commonly used at Apple:
• Sentence-style capitalization: This line provides an example of sentence-style
capitalization.
• Title-style capitalization: This Line Provides an Example of Title-Style Capitalization.
Except for user interface text, guidelines for when to use sentence-style capitalization and
when to use title-style capitalization are a matter of department style.
44Apple Style Guide
In general, capitalize the names of onscreen elements exactly as they appear onscreen.
If an onscreen element uses all capital letters or all lowercase letters, use title-style
capitalization when writing the element name in documentation.
Don’t capitalize the word chapter or appendix, except in cross-references to actual titles.
See Chapter 2, “Units of Measure.”
See the appendix for specifications.
See Appendix B for a list of specifications.
When using title-style capitalization, capitalize:
• The first and last word, regardless of the part of speech
• Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs—no matter their length (for example,
It, This, You, Your, My, Is, Are, and Be)—unless noted as an exception below
Skip This Backup
Apple News Is Offline
Passwords Are Locked
• Conjunctions (except for coordinating conjunctions), no matter their length (for
example, If)
What to Do If Your iPhone Is Lost
• Prepositions of five letters or more (for example, About, Between, Through)
• Prepositions of any length when they’re part of a phrasal verb (such as Start Up, Turn
On, or Log In) or are used as another part of speech (such as an adverb, adjective,
noun, or verb)
Start Up the Computer
Turn On Apple Watch
Log In to the Server
• The second word in a hyphenated compound (except for Built-in and Plug-in)
High-Level Events
64-Bit Addressing
45Apple Style Guide
When using title-style capitalization, don’t capitalize:
• Articles (a, an, the), unless an article is the first word or follows a colon
• Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, and so)
• The word to in infinitives (How to Start Your Computer)
• The word as, regardless of the part of speech (Export a Document as a PDF)
• Words that always begin with a lowercase letter, such as iPad and macOS
• Prepositions of four letters or fewer (at, by, for, from, in, into, of, off, on, onto, out, over,
to, up, and with)
Don’t Speak in Silent Mode
Collaborate with Others
Restore iPhone from a Backup
Exception: Capitalize prepositions of any length when they’re part of a phrasal verb, as
described in the “capitalize” section above.
See also abbreviations and acronyms.
Caps Lock key Not Shift Lock.
captions See figure captions; table captions.
card Refers to a removable circuit board that’s installed in a slot. See also board;
peripheral card.
card names Capitalize the word card in a card name only if it’s part of the name (for
example, AirPort Extreme Card). For generic names, don’t capitalize any part of the card
name (for example, an internal modem card).
caret In developer materials, use caret for the blinking bar that marks the insertion point.
In user materials, the blinking bar is the insertion point.
Don’t use caret when you mean circumflex. A circumflex (ˆ) is an accent used in French
words, such as être.
CarPlay Don’t use as a verb.
Correct: You can use CarPlay to play audiobooks from your iPhone.
Incorrect: You can CarPlay audiobooks from your iPhone.
Users can connect devices to CarPlay and do tasks with CarPlay.
Connect your iPhone to CarPlay.
You can play music and make phone calls with CarPlay.
Users can open apps and change settings in CarPlay.
Open Maps in CarPlay and select a route.
You can change the map view in CarPlay.
carriage return See CR.
carrier Use this, or wireless carrier, to refer to a mobile network operator that provides
wireless communication services (including network, voice, and data).
46Apple Style Guide
catalog Refers to a list of all files and folders stored on a volume. Don’t use this term in
user materials.
Catalyst Don’t use; use Mac Catalyst. See also Mac Catalyst.
CD Abbreviation for compact disc. Use disc, not disk, to refer to CD media.
cell phone, cellular phone Don’t use; use mobile phone.
cellular (n., adj.) OK to use as a noun or an adjective.
You can activate cellular when you set up Apple Watch.
Transfer cellular service from an old device to a new one.
Don’t shorten cellular to cell (cellular service, not cell service).
cellular signal indicator No hyphen.
central memory Don’t use; use main memory.
central processing unit See CPU.
chain (n., v.) OK to use when you mean a series of devices connected together.
chapter Don’t capitalize the word chapter, except in cross-references to actual titles
(exception to The Chicago Manual of Style).
in Chapter 5, “Expanding Your Computer”
in Chapters 4 and 5
in the next chapter
See also capitalization.
character Use in reference to what a key on a keyboard stands for.
The Character Viewer provides access to nontypical characters like
bullets, arrows, and currency symbols.
See also symbol.
Character Viewer The systemwide window in macOS for selecting and inserting emoji,
symbols, and other special characters in text. To open the window, choose Edit > Emoji &
Symbols in most macOS apps.
charge cable Lowercase except in product names: charge cable; USB-C Charge Cable.
chat (n., v., adj.) Use as a noun only after identifying the context (typically audio chat or
video chat).
When you finish chatting with your group, you can leave the group chat.
Customers can chat with AppleCare for technical support.
Messages is the built-in chat client for Mac computers.
chatbot Short for chatterbot. An app that uses artificial intelligence to simulate
conversation, through voice or text, with human users.
Many businesses offer chatbots as automated support.
See also bot.
47Apple Style Guide
check Don’t use when you mean the action of selecting a checkbox. See also checkbox.
checkbox A labeled square control users select or deselect. Don’t instruct users to click a
checkbox, because it’s ambiguous (you don’t know the checkbox’s initial state).
Using the word checkbox can be helpful, especially for people with visual disabilities.
Select “Allow repeated calls.”
Select the “Allow repeated calls” checkbox.
Select the checkbox labeled “Allow repeated calls.”
A checkbox can be selected or unselected. Avoid saying checked and unchecked.
If “Allow repeated calls” is unselected, multiple calls from the same
person do not go through.
If “Allow repeated calls” isn’t selected, …
See also radio button; select (v.).
Check In A feature that alerts a friend or family member that your device has reached a
destination or you’ve completed a workout. Use to refer to both the feature and what you
send using the feature.
Check In notifies your friend when your workout is completed.
If you need extra time, you can add time to your Check In.
Don’t use Check In as a verb; use send a Check In or similar.
Correct: Use the Messages app to send a Check In to a friend.
Incorrect: Use the Messages app to Check In with a friend.
When discussing other features that allow you to check in (for example, checking in to
a hotel room using the Wallet app), hyphenate check-in as a noun and adjective; don’t
hyphenate the verb form.
When check-in is available, you can use the Wallet app to check in to
your room.
checkmark One word. See also menus.
checkout (n., adj.), check out (v.) One word except as a verb.
checksum One word.
48Apple Style Guide
child’s Apple Account Use to refer to an Apple Account that’s set up for a child as part of
a Family Sharing group. Don’t use child Apple Account.
Correct: You can change the password for a child’s Apple Account.
Incorrect: You can change the password for a child Apple Account.
See also Apple Account; Family Sharing.
chip Use integrated circuit or silicon chip (with an explanation of the term) on first
occurrence. Don’t use chip when you mean microprocessor (Intel microprocessor, not Intel
chip).
choose Use choose, not select, for menu items. In general, the user selects something
(such as a file or disk icon, an email message, or a section of text) and then chooses a
command to act on the selection.
Choose View > Sort By > Date.
Select the text to copy, and then choose Edit> Copy.
Click the pop-up menu, and then choose High Priority.
Control-click the TextEdit icon, and then choose Make Alias.
See also menus; select (v.).
clamshell Don’t use to refer to the lid of a laptop computer or device case (such as an
AirPods case); use lid.
clean installation Not clean install. Users perform a clean installation; they don’t do a
clean install. See also install; installation.
Clean Up An Apple Intelligence feature. You can use the name with or without tool.
Remove distractions from your photos with the Clean Up tool.
Clean Up is available in macOS 15.1 or later.
Use cleanup (n., adj.) and clean up (v.) in general references.
Correct: Clean up distractions in the background of your photos.
Incorrect: Clean Up distractions in the background of your photos.
click Use to describe the act of selecting something or initiating an action by positioning
the pointer over an onscreen element and briefly pressing and releasing the mouse or
trackpad.
To open Mail, click the Mail icon in the Dock.
Click a disk icon to select it, and then choose File > Make Alias.
Don’t use click on. Don’t say click the mouse or click the trackpad; instead, use press and
release.
Press the mouse, drag to enclose the area you want to select, and then
release.
See also click and hold; click in; double click (n.), double-click (v.), double-clicking (n., v.);
press; select (v.); tap (n., v.); triple click (n.), triple-click (v.), triple-clicking (n., v.).
49Apple Style Guide
click and drag Don’t use. You either click or drag.
Correct: Drag the icon to the Trash.
Incorrect: Click and drag the icon to the Trash.
click and hold Refers to the act of positioning the pointer on an item on the screen and
pressing the mouse or trackpad until something happens.
Click the Previous or Next button to go to the previous or next clip, or
click and hold the Previous or Next button to rewind or fast-forward.
Don’t use click and hold to refer to the act of pressing deeper on a Force Touch trackpad;
use force click.
See also click; force click (v.); hold down; press; touch and hold.
click in You click in a window or other area of the screen, such as an image; you click other
onscreen elements, such as icons and buttons. See also click.
click on Don’t use; use click. See also click.
client Software that uses the services of another program; also the computer using the
client software. The computer can be called the client computer, client system, or client.
client/server Note slash.
clip art Two words.
Clipboard In user materials, use Clipboard, not pasteboard. In developer materials, it’s OK
to use pasteboard when you discuss the NSPasteboard class, but point out that users view
the contents of the pasteboard in the Clipboard.
close In macOS, users close windows or documents and quit apps.
In iOS, users can close an app (stop using it temporarily) by pressing the Home button;
doing so may not quit the app (stop the app from running altogether). You can also use
leave to refer to closing an app.
To leave an app and return to the Home Screen, press the Home button.
See also open; quit.
close button In macOS, refers to the leftmost button of the three window controls in the
upper-left corner of the title bar.
closed captions (n.), closed captioning (n., adj.), closed-captioned (adj.) Note
hyphenation.
You can turn closed captions on or off.
Change closed captioning settings.
Closed-captioned programming is increasingly available to viewers.
See also SDH.
50Apple Style Guide
cloud Avoid using the cloud to refer to iCloud. However, you can say content is in the
cloud if the context makes clear you’re referring to iCloud.
With iCloud, you can store all of your content in the cloud so it’s
available anytime, anywhere.
See also iCloud.
CLUT Acronym for color lookup table. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
co (prefix) Close up except before a few words beginning with o.
coexist, cooperate, coprocessor, coworker
co-op, co-owner
coax Don’t use when you mean coaxial.
code, passcode Use code to refer to the sequence of numbers sent to a device to verify a
user’s identity.
Enter the six-digit code sent to your iPhone.
Use passcode to refer to the unique combination of numbers (and sometimes letters) that a
user sets to lock or unlock a device, set restrictions on a device, or provide authentication
for Apple Pay purchases.
To unlock Apple Watch, enter your passcode.
See also authenticate, authorize; passkey; password.
codec Not CODEC. In the context of media apps, codec is short for compressor/
decompressor, a method for compressing and decompressing data. For example, MP3 and
H.264 are codecs that reduce the amount of information used to represent audio and video
content, respectively. In telecommunications, the term is short for coder/decoder, a device
for encoding and decoding signals.
code file Two words.
code font A fixed-width font (such as Courier) used to represent code.
Use code font for the following:
• Text the user is to type (In some groups, double quotation marks or italics may be
used for short words or phrases the user is to type. Consult your department’s style
guidelines.)
• Code listings
• Small pieces of sample code
• Computer-language elements such as reserved words, literals, variables, and routines
• Commands that appear in running text
Use regular body font for any punctuation following a word or phrase in code font, unless
the punctuation mark is part of the computer-language element represented or part of
something the user is to type. Use regular body font for the spaces that immediately
precede or follow text in code font.
51Apple Style Guide
If the language you’re working with has a standard style of indentation, use it. If it doesn’t
have such a style, develop a logical style of your own and use it consistently.
Develop a method of spacing around punctuation and use it consistently. It’s often best to
use standard spacing (one space between a punctuation mark and the next character).
In user materials, don’t use code font in any of the following:
• Part or chapter titles
• Text headings
• Cross-references to parts, chapters, or sections
• Entries in the table of contents
• Internet or web addresses
• Figure captions or callouts
• Names of files, folders, or directories
• System or alert messages. If you quote a system message or alert message exactly as it
appears on the screen, use body font in quotation marks. If you paraphrase a message,
use body font without quotation marks.
If your source clip isn’t as long as the duration between the sequence
start and end points, an “Insufficient content for edit” message appears.
When a message appears asking if you want to clear the keyboard
layout, click Yes.
See also Intro.
code names Use exactly the same form for a product’s code name throughout a
document. (If the name is sometimes misspelled or otherwise treated inconsistently, a
global search-and-replace operation isn’t possible.)
In final documentation, don’t refer to a product by its code name unless marketing
specifically decides to associate the code name with the product.
cold start (n., v.), cold-start (adj.) Not coldstart.
colons Follow these guidelines for using colons:
• In running text: Capitalize the first word after the colon if the word begins a complete
sentence (exception to The Chicago Manual of Style).
There are two ways to raise or lower text in relation to adjacent text:
You can make characters superscript or subscript, or you can adjust the
baseline shift.
Ordinary video clips and image files have three channels of color
information: red, green, and blue.
• In headings: If you use a colon in a heading, capitalize the first word after the colon,
regardless of its part of speech.
Setting up: A beginner’s guide
• With lists: Precede every list with a colon, whether the sentence before the colon is a
complete thought or a partial thought (exception to The Chicago Manual of Style). See
also lists (bulleted).
52Apple Style Guide
color blind, color blindness To refer to people who have problems seeing different colors,
you can say a person who is color blind, a person who has color blindness, people with
color blindness.
If you are color blind, you can use Color Filters to help you differentiate
between colors.
See also Writing about disability.
colored Don’t use to describe items on the screen. Instead, use color (a sepia-color photo,
a color pattern), or describe the specific color (a green arrow, the multicolor pinwheel).
color lookup table See CLUT.
color picker Don’t use. See also picker.
color pixels Not colored pixels.
colors Colors include shades of gray, so you can use colors to refer to settings for both
grayscale and color displays. On first mention of setting colors, say, for example:
You can set the number of colors (or shades of gray) displayed on the
screen.
Thereafter, use colors.
Colors window The systemwide window for selecting colors.
color well Refers to the small rectangular or square control used to select a color.
When you choose Gradient Fill, two color wells appear below the pop-
up menu; select a color from each color well.
Select the Alternating Row Color checkbox, and then click the color well
to select a color.
column view A way to display and select items in a hierarchy of data—for example, the
column view in Finder windows.
Column View button The button second from the right in the View control in Finder
windows.
combined action In developer materials, use to refer to a combination of mouse (or
trackpad) actions with keyboard presses—for example, Option-Shift-click. In user
materials, use keyboard shortcuts to refer to actions that include keyboard presses.
53Apple Style Guide
command Use command or menu command in user materials.
Use the Print command to create a PDF of your document.
To change the way windows look, use the commands in the View menu.
Use item or option to refer to menu items that aren’t commands, such as names of fonts in
a pop-up menu.
A command is in a menu, not on a menu; a menu contains commands. Users choose
commands; they don’t select commands.
See also choose; command names; menus.
Command-click (v.) Equivalent to press the Command key while you click.
Command-click to select multiple files.
See also key, keys.
Command-drag (v.) Equivalent to press and hold the Command key while you drag.
To rotate the masked image, Command-drag its selection handles.
See also key, keys.
Command key On first use in printed user materials, it’s OK to identify the Command key
with its symbol: Command ( ) key. Thereafter, just use Command key.
It’s OK to use the Command key symbol in a list of shortcuts.
Option- -Escape
Option-Shift- -Delete
Command-key equivalent Don’t use; use keyboard shortcut even when all the
combinations use the Command key.
command line (n.), command-line (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
command names Use title-style capitalization for command names; don’t capitalize
command.
the Find command
the Make Alias command
• Commands used as ordinary verbs: Don’t capitalize a command name when you use the
name as a normal English verb.
Correct: Cut and paste the selected text.
Incorrect: Cut and Paste the selected text.
• Ellipsis: Some menu commands use an ellipsis to indicate that further action will be
required. Don’t include the ellipsis when you refer to the command name in text or text
headings.
Correct: Choose File > Print, and then enter the number of copies.
Incorrect: Choose File > Print…, and then enter the number of copies.
See also choose; command; menus.
54Apple Style Guide
commas Use a serial comma before and or or in a list of three or more items.
Correct: You can ask Siri to place phone calls, send text messages,
send reminders, and more.
Incorrect: You can ask Siri to place phone calls, send text messages,
send reminders and more.
communication, communications Use the singular to describe the act of communicating;
use the plural to describe the technology.
compact disc See CD.
companion iPhone Don’t use. See also pair, paired.
Company, Co. Spell out or abbreviate according to the particular company’s preference.
Compass Waypoints The feature name. You can use Compass Waypoint or just waypoint
to refer to an individual waypoint. Don’t use compass waypoint.
Use Compass Waypoints to mark locations of interest, and then view
the elevation of each waypoint relative to your current location.
You can use the Action button to drop a Compass Waypoint.
compile time (n.), compile-time (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
complications It’s OK to use complication to refer to a feature you can add to the watch
face on Apple Watch, as long as you define complication on first use. However, in most
cases, avoid using any specific term to refer to these features; simply discuss them
generically—for example, you can add an alarm to the watch face, not you can add an alarm
complication to the watch face.
component video Note lowercase.
composite video Note lowercase.
comprise The whole comprises its parts. This word is misused so often that correct usage
might confuse the reader; avoid it altogether. Use is composed of, includes, consists of,
contains, or another word, as appropriate. Never use is comprised of, which in strict usage
is equivalent to is included of.
computer Use when you describe a computer without any peripherals. Don’t use machine
or unit. See also system.
computer voice See code font.
connect Use to refer to the act of joining devices together; don’t use attach, hook up,
or mate. You connect USB devices to a computer, and you can connect computers to a
network. Don’t use connect when you mean plug in. See also plug in (v.), plug into (v.).
55Apple Style Guide
connector Use to refer only to an item that can be plugged into a receptacle (such as a
slot, port, or socket). Use the following terminology:
edge connector: the connector on the edge of a peripheral card; fits
into a slot
minicircular connector: an 8-pin connector [Don’t use mini-DIN.]
plug: a connector with prongs or pins
In user materials, describe connectors by their shape and size, by the icon that appears
on the connector, or in another way appropriate to the context. Users should be able to
identify the connector easily, even if they don’t know the terminology.
Avoid obscure names such as power input unit in favor of more direct terms, such as plug.
Don’t use male or female to describe types of connectors.
See also jack; port; slot; socket; USB connector types.
constitute Parts constitute a whole. A whole comprises parts. See also comprise.
contacts, Contacts Use lowercase to refer to a user’s collection of contacts: Add a
contact, update your contacts. Capitalize when referring to the app name: Use Contacts to
call someone, get help using Contacts. See also iCloud.
contextual menu The menu that appears when a user presses the Control key and clicks
an item on the screen. In user materials, use shortcut menu, not contextual menu. However,
you can refer to the menu parenthetically as a contextual menu on first reference for users
who may be more familiar with that term.
A shortcut menu (also called a contextual menu) appears.
See also menus.
contractions As part of Apple’s informal voice, contractions are used and recommended
throughout most documentation, interface text, and marketing copy. Keep localization in
mind when deciding how or whether to use contractions.
• Use common contractions of be-verbs and auxiliary verbs with not (aren’t, isn’t, can’t,
couldn’t, didn’t, doesn’t, hadn’t, haven’t, weren’t, won’t).
You don’t have access to the information.
The error shouldn’t occur again.
• Use common contractions of be-verbs and auxiliary verbs with personal pronouns
(he’s, I’m, I’ve, it’s, she’ll, they’re, we’ve, you’re). It’s also OK to use here’s, let’s, that’s,
there’s, and what’s.
Here’s a quick look at what’s new in this release.
We’re building a solar farm in China.
• Don’t formcontractions from nouns or proper nouns.
Avoid: The computer’s not working.
Preferable: The computer isn’t working.
Avoid: Apple’s going to introduce a new computer today.
Preferable: Apple is going to introduce a new computer today.
56Apple Style Guide
• Avoid contractions of multipart verbs (could’ve), colloquialisms (workin’), and other
contractions that are uncommon or awkward-sounding in written materials, or that may
confuse nonnative English speakers (everybody’d, how’re, it’ll, many’s, when’s, where’ll,
who’ve, why’s). Possible exceptions include text that’s meant to be spoken (such as a
script) and direct quotes in running text.
• Don’t confuseit’s(the contraction for it is) with its (apossessive pronoun).
It’s important for the department to keep track of its computers.
See also possessives.
Control Center Don’t precede with the.
Click an item in Control Center to see additional options.
control character (n.), control-character (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
Control-click (v.) Equivalent to press the Control key while you click.
To open a document, Control-click the document icon and choose
Open.
See also key, keys.
control key Don’t use in a general sense; use modifier key. The name of the specific key is
capitalized: Control key. See also modifier key.
Control key It’s OK to abbreviate as Ctrl when space constraints don’t allow the use of the
full term (as in column headings in tables). Don’t use CTRL.
Control Strip A set of system controls in the TouchBar. Items are in (not on) the
ControlStrip. You expand or collapse the ControlStrip (not show or hide it).
To change the volume, tap in the Control Strip.
See also Touch Bar.
convert to Not convert into.
cookies Not cookie files. Use to refer to small text files a website may copy to a user’s
computer to record information about the user or the computer.
To use some websites, you must set your web browser to accept
cookies.
coprocessor No hyphen.
copy You copy a file to a disk, not on a disk or onto a disk.
copy-protect (v.), copy-protected (adj., pred. adj.), copy-protection (n.) Hyphenate in
all forms.
A copy-protected disk or file can’t be copied legally.
The disc is copy-protected.
57Apple Style Guide
copyright page All documentation must have a copyright page or copyright notice. A
copyright page includes a copyright notice and an Apple trademark list. A copyright notice
includes the © symbol, the year the work was first published, the copyright owner (Apple
Inc.), and the statement All rights reserved. Onscreen documents also require a copyright
notice.
• Finding the correct copyright notice: The copyright page is a boilerplate element.
Consult with your department editor to be sure you have the appropriate boilerplate.
• Apple trademarks: All Apple trademarks mentioned in the document must receive a
credit line on the copyright page. See the Apple trademark list.
• Third-party trademarks: Certain third-party trademarks also must receive a credit line
on the copyright page. See the “Special and Licensed Trademarks and/or Copyrights”
section of the Apple trademark list.
See also trademarks (credit lines and symbols); trademarks (usage).
cord Use only to describe a power cord or a phone cord. See also cable.
core Short for execution core or processor core. See also dual-core (adj.).
Corporation, Corp. Spell out or abbreviate according to the particular corporation’s
preference.
corrupted Avoid if possible. Use damaged instead.
country Avoid using the term country when referring to a geographical area. Instead, use
country or region or just region.
Features may vary based on country or region.
Some features are not available in all countries or regions.
cover glass Use to refer to the surface on the front of AppleVisionPro.
For optimal performance, keep the cover glass clean and smudge-free.
CPU Abbreviation for central processing unit. Avoid in user materials; use processor to
refer to the chip and use computer or system to refer to the computer itself. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms. See also computer;
processor; system.
CR Abbreviation for carriage return. Use only when you refer specifically to ASCII
character 0D or its equivalent. Explain the term carriage return if your audience
includes first-time computer users. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
Use return character when you write about, for example, searches for return characters.
Use Return key for the key users press.
crash Don’t use; use quits unexpectedly, doesn’t respond, or stops responding. If you
must use this word, put it in quotation marks and reassure the reader that the term crash
doesn’t imply damage to hardware or software.
58Apple Style Guide
Crash Detection Note capitalization.
Crash Detection is turned on by default.
creator types Use code font for creator type names, which must consist of exactly four
characters (one of which may be a space) inside straight, single, code-font quotation
marks.
'ttxt', 'MPS '
crosshair Use to refer to this pointer:
cross-references Guidelines for cross-references vary by department, document type,
and delivery method. This section provides general guidelines, but always consult your
department’s style guidelines if in doubt about which style to use, and be consistent within
a document.
• Titles of books and other documents: In general, use title-style capitalization and italics;
don’t use quotation marks unless italics aren’t available. Don’t capitalize or italicize
phrases such as user guide unless they’re part of the title as it appears on the cover
page of the document. Don’t include trademark symbols.
See the iPhone User Guide.
For detailed information about using Apple Watch, download the user
guide.
Exception: In onscreen text, it’s acceptable to write the titles of user guides (and other
books) in roman, with no quotation marks. Titles are often links—which are typically
not italicized—so even if a title is not a link, you may want to make it match the style of
other linked titles (roman, with no quotation marks).
For more information about adding contacts, see the Contacts User
Guide.
iMac Essentials provides all the information you need to set up and start
using your new iMac.
• Titles of chapters or sections of a document: Authoring and output tools typically
determine the format of links to chapters or sections within a document. For cross-
references that aren’t links, match the capitalization style of the chapter or section
title, and enclose the title in quotation marks. If you refer to a chapter by number, don’t
enclose the word Chapter or the chapter number in quotation marks.
For more information, see the “Edit with multicam clips” section of the
FinalCutProUser Guide.
See Chapter 1, “Ready, Set Up, Go,” on page 7.
See also capitalization.
crown See Digital Crown.
59Apple Style Guide
Ctrl Abbreviation for Control. Use the abbreviation only when space constraints don’t
allow use of the full term (as in column headings in tables); otherwise, use Control, as in
Control key or Control-S. Don’t use CTRL.
curly brackets Don’t use curly brackets to describe these symbols: { }; use braces.
cursor Don’t use in describing the macOS or iOS interface; use insertion point or pointer,
depending on the context. The term cursor is appropriate when you describe the VoiceOver
interface and may be appropriate when you describe other interfaces and in developer
materials. See also insertion point; pointer.
custom installation Not custom install. Users perform a custom installation; they don’t do
a custom install. See also install; installation; normal installation.
D
DAC Acronym for digital-to-analog converter. Note hyphenation in the spelled-out version.
For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Daily Cash An Apple Card feature that adds a percentage of every purchase amount to the
user’s Apple Cash account. You can use Daily Cash to refer to the feature or to the cash
received. See also Apple Card; Apple Cash Family.
Dark Mode Note capitalization.
You can use Dark Mode to darken the color scheme so the content
you’re working on stands out.
Users can turn on or turn off Dark Mode and use Dark Mode. Don’t describe a computer or
device as using Dark Mode or being in Dark Mode.
Correct: When Dark Mode is turned on, you can still use a light
background in your emails.
Correct: If you’re using Dark Mode…
Incorrect: If your iPhone is using Dark Mode…
You can also refer to Dark Mode as the dark appearance. The alternative is the light
appearance (not Light Mode).
Open System Settings, click Appearance, and then select the light or
dark appearance.
Dashboard Don’t precede Dashboard with the or your. See also widget.
dash (em) Use the em dash (—) to set off a word or phrase that interrupts or changes the
direction of a sentence or to set off a lengthy list that would otherwise make the syntax of
a sentence confusing. Don’t overuse em dashes. If the text being set off doesn’t come at
the end of the sentence, use an em dash both before it and after it.
See all your schedules—work, school, and social life—in one app.
To generate an em dash, press Option-Shift-Hyphen. Close up the em dash with the word
before it and the word after it.
60Apple Style Guide
dash (en) The en dash (–) is shorter than an em dash and longer than a hyphen. Use the
en dash as follows:
• Numbers in a range: Use an en dash between numbers that represent the endpoints of a
continuous range.
bits 3–17, 2003–2005
• Compound adjectives: Use an en dash between the elements of a compound adjective
when one of those elements is itself two words.
desktop interface–specific instructions
Grammy Award–winning producer
ex–Sun Studio tour guide
• Minus sign: Use an en dash as a minus sign (except in code font, where you use a
hyphen).
–1, –65,535
To generate an en dash, press Option-Hyphen. Close up the en dash with the word (or
number) before it and the word (or number) after it.
See also hyphenation.
data Singular or plural, depending on the context. When used as a collective noun,
data takes a singular verb. When the meaning isn’t collective, use a plural verb. In user
materials, avoid in favor of information if information makes sense in the context.
Collective and thus singular: Data is stored in a FileMaker Pro database.
Not collective and thus plural: Selected data are transferred
immediately.
database (n., adj.) Refers to the body of data manipulated by a database app.
data file Two words.
date picker Don’t use. See also picker.
dates Follow these guidelines for dates, unless your department uses international style
(see Dates and times).
• Commas: Use a comma between the day of the month and the year.
June 9, 2025
When you use the full date, follow the year with a comma.
on June 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
If you give only the month and year, don’t use commas.
in June 2025 at WWDC
61Apple Style Guide
• Cardinal and ordinal numbers: Use cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) in dates that include the
month. Use ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in dates without the month. For ordinal
numbers, use full-size letters, not superscript.
Correct: The conference was held on August 12.
Correct: The conference was held on the 12th.
Incorrect: The conference was held on the 12
th
.
• When to spell out: Spell out the names of days and months in text. Use numerals for the
year except when it appears at the beginning of a sentence; spell out the year there or
rewrite to avoid.
• Slashes in dates: Don’t use the form 3/5/22, because American usage is different from
European usage.
daughter board Don’t use; use expansion board.
daylight saving time Not daylight savings time.
deactivate See activate, deactivate.
deafblind, Deafblind Use deafblind to refer generally to people who have a combination of
vision and hearing loss, or to refer to a medical condition or diagnosis.
If you are deafblind, you can turn on Taptic Time in VoiceOver on Apple
Watch to be notified of the time with a series of taps.
Capitalize Deafblind when referring to people who identify culturally as Deafblind
(sometimes spelled DeafBlind).
Some people in the Deafblind community use a braille display
connected to their Mac to read, write, and watch videos.
If you’re unsure of the correct way to refer to a specific person, you can ask them.
Don’t use deaf and dumb, mute, or deaf-mute.
See also blind, low vision; deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf; Writing about disability.
deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf Use deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf or hard of hearing to
refer generally to people with hearing loss, or to refer to a medical condition or diagnosis.
Closed captioning is especially useful if you are deaf or hard of hearing.
Capitalize Deaf when referring to people who identify culturally as Deaf.
Many people in the Deaf community prefer to communicate using sign
language.
If you’re unsure of the correct way to refer to a specific person, you can ask them.
Don’t use hearing impaired.
See also deafblind, Deafblind; Writing about disability.
dealer, dealership Don’t use; use Apple Authorized Reseller. See also Apple Authorized
Reseller.
deejay Don’t use; use DJ. See also DJ.
62Apple Style Guide
default (n., adj.) OK to use to describe the state of settings before the user
changes them.
By default, iMovie inserts transitions between clips.
You can display the scopes below the video image rather than on the
left side (the default).
See also preset (n., adj.).
degrees OK to either spell out degrees or use the degree symbol (), but be consistent.
Hyphenate when the term precedes a noun: 160-degree viewing angle. The symbol is
closed up with the number: 160º viewing angle, 32º F. To generate the degree symbol,
press Option-K.
dehighlight, dehighlighted Don’t use. Use deselect as a verb when appropriate;
otherwise, reword. Use not highlighted as the adjective.
DEL character Not DELETE character or rubout character. Refers specifically to ASCII
character 7F.
deny list/allow list Use to refer to lists of entities that are denied or allowed access to
resources such as servers and websites. You can also use similar terms such as deny list/
permit list, unapproved list/approved list, or reject list/accept list. Don’t use blacklist/
whitelist.
To allow incoming email from an address, add the address to your
server’s allow list.
Add IP addresses to a deny list to prevent them from accessing the
server.
Don’t hyphenate the adjective form: deny list data is stored at the partition level; export
the allow list file. Don’t use deny list and allow list as verbs; instead, use deny, allow, and
so on (you can deny IP addresses to prevent them from accessing the server). Don’t use
deny listed and allow listed; instead, use denied, allowed, and so on.
Correct: Search for your server’s list of allowed IP addresses.
Incorrect: Search for your server’s allow listed IP addresses.
See also blacklist/whitelist (n., v.).
Delete key Not DEL key.
deploy OK to use in server and developer materials to refer to placing configured
computer systems, services, or software in a specific environment or making these items
available for use in that environment.
In large organizations, collaboration services are usually deployed at
both corporate and workgroup levels.
depress Don’t use; use press.
deselect OK to use when you mean cancel a selection. Not uncheck, unselect, unhighlight,
or dehighlight. See also checkbox; radio button; unselected (adj.).
desire Don’t use. See also want.
63Apple Style Guide
desired Try to avoid.
Correct: make your changes, select the folder
Incorrect: make the desired changes, select the desired folder
desktop (n., adj.) Use to refer to the background area of the screen on a Mac.
desktop computer A descriptive term for computers that are not designed to be portable.
In general, use desktop computer; it’s OK to use desktop alone if the meaning is clear.
Desktop computers from Apple include iMac and Mac Studio.
Find the manual for your Mac desktop computer.
Shop for a new Mac desktop.
See also computer; laptop.
determinate progress bar In developer materials, the progress bar that fills from left to
right. In user materials, use progress indicator and describe what it looks like.
Developer materials: Use a determinate progress bar when you can tell
the user how much of a process has been completed.
User materials: A progress indicator (a moving bar) shows the status of
the download.
device Use to refer generically to hardware that connects to a computer (communications
device, input device, mobile device, peripheral device).
You can also use device:
• To refer to a category of hardware products: iOS device, iPadOS device, iOS and iPadOS
devices, Android device
• To refer to more than one of a specific device (to avoid making a trademarked name
plural)
Correct: If you have multiple iPad devices, you can…
Incorrect: If you have multiple iPads, you can…
• To refer to Mac computers in conjunction with iPhone, iPad, and other devices when no
distinction is needed
iCloud keeps your documents updated across all your devices.
When you add a photo on your Mac, it appears on your other devices.
In user materials, when you write about a specific device, use that device’s name (such as
Mac or Apple Watch) in most cases. In service documentation, if a device name is repeated
frequently and it’s clear from the context what the device is, it’s OK to shorten to device, or
to another acceptable short form—for example, computer instead of Mac, or watch instead
of Apple Watch.
See also mobile device; product; unit.
diacritical mark Not diacritic.
dial in, dial in to (v.), dial-in (adj.) Note hyphenation of the adjective form.
64Apple Style Guide
dialog In user materials, use dialog for windows, like the one below, that request additional
information from the user and are explicitly dismissed by clicking a button within the
dialog—for example, OK, Cancel, or Print. Don’t use dialog box.
Dialogs include alerts, which contain error messages or warnings about potentially
hazardous situations or actions. Although a dialog can be implemented as a sheet attached
to a window, don’t use sheet in user materials. Examples: Open dialog, Print dialog, Save
As dialog, Save Changes alert.
In developer materials, use panel rather than dialog in most contexts because dialogs are
created with programming symbols such as NSOpenPanel. When, however, the dialog
is seen by the developer as a user sees it, such as when giving instructions for using
developer apps, use dialog. Note that entities that are panels programmatically can be
windows rather than dialogs in user terminology—for example, the NSFontPanel class
implements the Fonts window.
See also alert (n., adj.); pane; sheet; window.
dialog box Don’t use; use dialog.
dialog message Don’t use; use message.
dialogue Use dialogue, not dialog, to refer to spoken words.
dial-up (adj.) Don’t use dial up as a verb.
different from Not different than. Make sure that the elements being compared are
parallel nouns.
Correct: The Mac user interface is different from that of a WindowsPC.
Incorrect: The Mac user interface is different than that of a
WindowsPC.
Incorrect: The Mac user interface is different from a WindowsPC.
differently than Use when comparing two parallel clauses. Don’t use different than,
different from, or differently from for this purpose. But rewrite whenever possible to set up
a construction in which different from is used to compare two parallel nouns.
Correct: She uses the computer differently than he does.
Preferable: Her use of the computer is different from his.
Incorrect: She uses the computer differently than him.
digital Don’t use a hyphen in compound adjectives beginning with digital: digital video
editing, digital media apps. Don’t use digital apps or digital applications.
65Apple Style Guide
digital camcorder See camcorder.
digital camera Use to refer to a digital still camera. After the first mention, camera is fine.
You can connect a digital camera if both your computer and camera
have built-in USB ports.
Digital Crown Precede with the. Always use the full term, not Crown or crown. You turn the
Digital Crown; you don’t rotate it.
Correct: Turn the Digital Crown to adjust the volume.
Incorrect: Rotate the crown to adjust the volume.
Use press to mean pressing the Digital Crown once; use double-click or triple-click to
mean pressing it more than once.
digital rights management See DRM.
digital-to-analog converter See DAC.
Digital Touch A feature for adding effects (such as a kiss or a heartbeat) to messages in
the Messages app for watchOS and iOS.
You can use Digital Touch to send your heartbeat to a friend.
To send a kiss, tap with two fingers.
You can refer to items users send as Digital Touch effects, or simply use the name of the
effect—for example, heartbeat, kiss, or sketch (not doodle). See also tap (n., v.).
digital video (n., adj.) No hyphen. See also DV.
digital video camera See video camera.
digital video recorder See DVR.
Digital Visual Interface See DVI.
dimensions In general, use by, not x, to show dimensions.
3.2 by 6.0 by 11.4 in. (8.1 by 15.2 by 28.9 cm)
8.5 by 11 inches, 8.5-by-11-inch paper
4 by 6 inches, 4-by-6-inch photo [acceptable: 4-by-6 photo, 4 x 6
photo]
If you use x instead of by, use the x consistently throughout a document.
See also resolution; x.
DIMM Acronym for dual inline memory module. For guidelines about spelling out
acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
dimmed Use dimmed, not hollow or grayed, to describe a shaded icon, menu item, button, or
option in a dialog. Dimmed options can’t be selected. Dimmed menu items can’t be chosen.
Dimmed icons can represent disks whose contents are displayed in a window, disks that
have been ejected, or files or folders in the window of a disk that has been ejected.
You don’t need to say dimmed (unavailable) because a dimmed object is understood to be
unavailable.
66Apple Style Guide
direction keys Don’t use; use arrow keys. See also arrow keys.
directory The standard UNIX term for an organizational unit, or container, used to organize
files and other directories into a hierarchical structure known as a file system. In developer
materials, use directory; in other Apple materials, use folder. See also folder.
directory pathnames See pathnames.
disability OK to use to refer to a person with a disability.
Make sure your website or app is accessible to people with disabilities.
Avoid terms like differently abled, people with special needs, people with special abilities,
and people of all abilities.
See also Writing about disability.
disable (v.), disabled (adj.) Don’t use disable to refer to turning off a feature or
deselecting an option; use turn off or deselect.
You can turn off Airplane Mode using Control Center.
To hide an object’s caption, deselect the Caption checkbox.
Don’t use disabled to describe features that are turned off or unavailable; use turned off,
unavailable, or inactive.
Make sure virus-protection software is turned off.
The Copy command is unavailable if there’s no text selected.
Active roles appear in color in the timeline; inactive roles appear in gray.
For guidance about referring to people with disabilities, see Writing about disability.
See also enable (v.), enabled (adj.); turn on, turn off.
disc Use disc (or optical disc) when you refer to optical storage media (such as CDs and DVDs).
For magnetic storage media such as hard disks, use disk. See also disk.
disclosure arrow A button that reveals or hides options when clicked (not the disclosure
button). It’s usually not necessary to mention that it’s closed (pointing to the right) or open
(pointing down).
Correct: You can click the disclosure arrow to reveal more information.
Avoid: You can click the closed disclosure arrow (pointing to the right)
to reveal more information.
The Info window contains disclosure arrows:
In developer materials, this control is referred to as a disclosure triangle.
See also disclosure button.
67Apple Style Guide
disclosure button A button containing an arrow that expands a dialog or utility window to
provide additional choices that are associated with a specific list-based selection control.
The arrow on the disclosure button points down in the closed position. When the user
clicks a disclosure button, the window expands and the arrow points up. See also
disclosure arrow.
disc titles Use italics for the full title of a disc and capitalize it the way it appears on the
label. The word CD or DVD isn’t typically part of the title.
disk Use to refer to magnetic storage media such as hard disks. You can also use disk
more broadly to include other types of computer storage media, such as solid-state drives
and flash storage. For example, legacy terms such as startup disk, disk partition, disk
image, and target disk mode are commonly used regardless of the type of storage.
You can often use a more general term, such as computer or storage space.
You can import media files stored on your computer.
You can delete files to free up storage space.
In user materials, don’t omit the article in phrases such as to a disk or on a disk.
Correct: You can copy the files to a disk.
Incorrect: You can copy the files to disk.
For optical storage media (such as CDs and DVDs), use disc.
See also volume (disk).
disk drive See drive.
disk image Note the k in disk.
disk name Use when you refer to the name that appears below a disk’s icon on the
desktop; don’t use disk title for this purpose.
display (n.) In most cases, use display, not monitor, to refer to the primary display
connected to a desktop computer. Also use display to refer to the built-in display in a
laptop or all-in-one computer. Don’t use when you mean desktop or screen.
Correct: A window appears on the screen.
Incorrect: A window appears on the display.
Correct: Arrange your display so that the top of the screen is slightly
below eye level.
68Apple Style Guide
On AppleWatch, use display to refer to the part of the watch that shows the screen, and
that users tap to interact with.
A new photo appears when you tap the display.
Tap the display to wake AppleWatch.
On AppleVisionPro, use display, not screen, to refer to the device’s internal displays.
If you get a notification that you’re too close to the displays, adjust the
fit of AppleVisionPro.
See also monitor; screen; view.
display (v.) Don’t use display when you mean appear.
Correct: The Print dialog appears.
Incorrect: The Print dialog displays.
See also appear.
display cable Use instead of monitor cable or monitor power cord for Apple displays.
display device Refers to a device connected to the computer that displays text or
graphics. If possible, be more specific: LCD projector or TV.
display port The port on a computer or graphics card used to plug in an Apple display.
Don’t use monitor port.
division sign Not division symbol.
DJ Use instead of deejay. The plural is DJs.
do Don’t use in phrases such as do a clean installation. Use perform instead.
dock A base in which to place a device. Use lowercase in general references: place iPad
in the dock. Capitalize in product names: iPhone Lightning Dock, Apple Watch Magnetic
Charging Dock. In user materials, don’t use dock as a verb; devices are in the dock, not
docked. Don’t use dockable.
Dock The bar of icons located by default at the bottom of the screen (on a Mac) or at the
bottom of the Home Screen (on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch). On Apple Watch, users view
the Dock by pressing the side button.
Don’t use as a verb. Items are in the Dock, not on the Dock. Don’t say an item is docked.
Correct: To put a window in the Dock, click the minimize button.
Incorrect: To dock a window, click the minimize button.
Correct: Click the Mail icon in the Dock.
Incorrect: Click the Mail icon on the Dock.
In macOS, don’t assume that an item is in a user’s Dock; everything except the Finder and
the Trash can be removed.
dock connector The port on older iOS devices for connecting to a dock, a cable, or an
adapter. Use lowercase in general references:an iPhone dock connector.
69Apple Style Guide
document In user materials, refers to a file the user creates and can open, edit, and
print. A document is a particular type of file; don’t use document when the file could be of
another type.
Correct: Time Machine backs up all your files to an external disk.
Incorrect: Time Machine backs up all your documents to an external
disk.
See also file.
document titles When you cite the full title of a document, follow the capitalization style
used in the title. The article the isn’t usually part of the title, but for user materials a phrase
such as User Guide often is. Consult your editor for titling guidelines specific to your
department.
• Specific references to document titles: Always give the title exactly as it appears on the
document’s cover page (but eliminate any trademark symbols). Don’t change an old title
to comply with the current guidelines for naming documents.
For more information, see the iPad User Guide.
• Generic references to document titles: Don’t capitalize or use italics for generic
references to documents.
See the user guide that came with your computer.
To connect your display, follow the instructions in the setup guide.
See also cross-references.
document window Don’t use; use document or window, not both. In developer materials,
document window is OK in reference to the predefined window type.
Dolby formats Note capitalization of the following audio and video formats:
Dolby Atmos surround sound
Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound
Dolby Vision
When referring to an audio format, include the descriptive term surround sound on first
reference.
Correct: HomePod supports Dolby Atmos surround sound.
Incorrect: HomePod supports Dolby Atmos.
In subsequent references, it’s OK to omit the term surround sound in the format names if
the context is clear.
When you set up a home theater on HomePod, you can enjoy surround
sound in the following formats: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 7.1, or Dolby
Digital 5.1.
Do Not Disturb Note capitalization.
To stop notifications, turn on Do Not Disturb.
dos and don’ts Note apostrophe.
70Apple Style Guide
dot (n.) Use to describe any of the following:
• The characters that appear when a user types a password
• The color components of a pixel (also called subpixels)
There are usually three dots per pixel: red, green, and blue.
Don’t use bit when referring to the components of a pixel.
See also bit (n., adj.); bullet; pixel.
dots per inch See dpi.
double Hyphenate compound adjectives beginning with double.
double-precision, double-sided, double-wide
double-byte characters Not 2-byte characters.
double click (n.), double-click (v.), double-clicking (n., v.) Note hyphenation.
Open apps with a simple double click.
You can double-click an app’s icon to open it.
You open a folder by double-clicking it.
On devices with a Home button, side button, top button, or Digital Crown, users double-
click (not double-press) the button or Digital Crown.
To view your open apps, double-click the Home button.
To decline an incoming call, double-click the Digital Crown.
See also click.
double layer (n.), double-layer (adj.) Hyphenate as an adjective, but not as a noun:
double-layer disc; DVD+RDL (Double Layer). Use lowercase for general references.
You can burn up to 4 hours of video on a double-layer DVD.
See also DVD.
double press (n.), double-press (v.), double-pressing (n., v.) Refers to quickly pressing
twice on the stem of some models of AirPods. Note hyphenation.
You can use a double press to control playback.
Double-press the stem to skip to the next track.
Skip to the next track by double-pressing the stem.
Don’t use to refer to quickly pressing a mechanical button twice; use double-click.
To view your open apps, double-click the Home button.
See also double click (n.), double-click (v.), double-clicking (n., v.).
71Apple Style Guide
double tap (n.), double-tap (v.), double-tapping (n., v.) Note hyphenation.
A simple double tap lets you zoom in.
Double-tap the photo to zoom in or out.
You can zoom in by double-tapping.
See also tap (n., v.).
down arrow Use to refer to the small arrow that users click to decrease a value in a
stepper.
Click the down arrow to decrease the text indent.
See also Down Arrow key; stepper.
Down Arrow key When you refer to arrow keys generically, use lowercase, but capitalize
and use the complete name when you refer to one or more arrow keys by name. See also
arrow keys.
download (n., v.), downloadable (adj.) Use only to refer touser-initiated downloads of
content.
You can download music you’ve already purchased to all your devices.
Avoid using download to refer to what iCloud does; instead, use an alternative such as keep
up to date,or say that content appears automatically.
Avoid: iCloud downloads your new photos to all your devices.
Preferable: iCloud keeps your photos up to date on all your devices.
See also iCloud.
Downtime Capitalize when referring to the feature or to the names of interface elements.
Use lowercase in generic references.
You can use the Downtime feature to schedule time away from the
screen for young family members.
During downtime, app icons are dimmed and an hourglass icon is
shown.
dpi Abbreviation for dots per inch (n.) and dot-per-inch (adj.). For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
The printer provides a resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi); it can be
upgraded to 1200 dpi.
The printer provides a 600-dot-per-inch (dpi) resolution; some printers
offer 1200 dpi resolution.
72Apple Style Guide
drag Refers to an action that can be performed on a desktop or laptop computer, on a
device with a touchscreen, or on AppleVisionPro. Usage is slightly different in each case;
follow the guidelines below.
• On desktop and laptop computers:Drag refers to the act of positioning the pointer,
pressing and holding the mouse or trackpad, moving the mouse (or, on a trackpad, the
user’s finger), and then releasing. If you’re writing for novice users, you might need to
define drag on first mention.
Use drag to refer to actions users perform with objects onscreen. For example, a user
can drag an onscreen item (such as a folder or file), drag a control (such as a slider),
or drag across part of the screen—for example, to create a shape or select an area of a
document to work with. Don’t use drag the mouse or drag the pointer.
Correct: Drag the Volume slider to change the volume.
Correct: Choose Tools > Annotate > Rectangle, and then drag to create
a rectangle.
Incorrect: Drag the mouse to draw a rectangle.
Don’t use click and drag. Don’t use place, put, or move when you mean drag.
Correct: Drag your songs into the order you want.
Correct: Drag the icon to the Trash.
Incorrect: Click and drag the icon to the Trash.
Incorrect: Put the icon in the Trash.
• On devices with touchscreens:Drag refers to the act of moving one finger across the
screen.
Users can drag to scroll through items, drag controls, or drag to pan around items such
as photos and webpages.
Drag up or down to scroll through your contacts.
Drag the slider to unlock iPhone.
To move around in a webpage, drag up, down, left, or right.
Don’t use tap and drag.
Correct: Drag to see a different part of the map.
Incorrect: Tap and drag to see a different part of the map.
Don’t say drag your finger.
Correct: Drag across the text.
Incorrect: Drag your finger across the text.
See also gestures; swipe (n., v.).
73Apple Style Guide
• On AppleVisionPro:Drag refers to the act of pinching and holding your thumb and
finger together to select an object, and then moving your hand to drag the object. In
instructions for users, in most cases use pinch and drag (not just drag).
For example, users can pinch and drag to move or resize objects, or to scroll in a
window or document.
To resize an object, pinch and drag a blue dot on any side of the object.
drag and drop (n., v.), drag-and-drop (adj.) Note hyphens in the adjective.
With drag and drop, you can use a finger to move text and other items
between apps.
Just drag and drop to add photos to your documents.
Using Photos, you can create digital photo albums with drag-and-drop
simplicity.
Avoid using drag and drop as a compound verb followed by an object; dragging includes
dropping the item into place.
Correct: Drag the file to the printer icon.
Incorrect: Drag and drop the file onto the printer icon.
drag handle Don’t use; use handle. See also handle.
DRAM Acronym for dynamic random-access memory. Pronounced “DEE-ram.” For
guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
drawer A window that slides out from a parent window when the user clicks a button or
chooses a command.
drive Use to refer to a data storage device such as a hard drive (which holds magnetic
disks), an optical drive (which holds optical discs), or a solid-state drive (which stores data
using flash memory and has no moving parts). Don’t capitalize drive except in a product
name such as SuperDrive or Fusion Drive.
It’s OK to use drive on its own after you first specify the type of drive.
If your Mac doesn’t have a built-in optical drive, you can use another
computer’s drive.
Don’t use drive when you mean disk or disc.
Correct: You can partition the disk in Disk Utility.
Incorrect: You can partition the drive in Disk Utility.
See also disk; hard drive.
driver Capitalize the word driver in a driver name only if it’s part of the name (for example,
Sound Driver or Disk Driver). When you use the term driver generically, as in print driver,
don’t capitalize. In user materials, avoid using driver; use software instead (printer
software).
DRM Abbreviation for digital rights management. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
DRM-free (adj.) Note hyphenation.
74Apple Style Guide
drop box Two words.
drop-down menu Don’t use; use menu.
drop zone Two words.
dual Hyphenate compound adjectives beginning with dual.
dual-band, dual-channel, dual-link
dual-core (adj.) Refers to a processor with two execution cores or to a computer with a
dual-core processor. Processors have dual cores, not a dual core. Related terms include
dual-core processing, dual-core performance, and so on. See also dual-processor (adj.);
Intel Core; Intel Xeon.
dual-display (adj.) Refers to the connection of two displays to a computer, or to an
external display connected to a laptop computer or an all-in-one computer. Computers can
have two displays or dual displays, not a dual display. See also extended desktop (n., adj.);
video mirroring (n., adj.).
dual inline memory module See DIMM.
dual-layer (adj.) Don’t use. Use double-layer in reference to the SuperDrive and the DVDs
it uses. See also double layer (n.), double-layer (adj.).
dual-processor (adj.) Computers with two processors are dual-processor computers.
They have dual processors, dual Intel Xeon processors, and so on. Don’t use a dual
processor or DP. See also dual-core (adj.).
duckhead Don’t use. When describing the wall-plug module that attaches to an Apple
power adapter, use AC wall adapter.
due to Avoid; instead, use alternatives such as caused by or because of.
Avoid: The interference was due to a faulty cable.
Preferable: Your apps will open more quickly because of the additional
memory.
dummy Don’t use to refer to placeholder content. Use an alternative that conveys the
correct meaning in context, such as placeholder, sample, test, stub, or boilerplate.
Correct: Use layout guides to replace the placeholder views you
created.
Incorrect: Use layout guides to replace the dummy views you created.
DV An industry-standard video format. Generally, use DV to refer to the format or to
products that use the format. Don’t use DV to refer to the medium digital video. Related
terms include DV format, DV standard, DV camera, DV camcorder.
DVD An optical disc designed for high-capacity storage. Use disc, not disk, to refer to
DVD media.
DVD drive Avoid; use optical drive. See also SuperDrive.
DVI Abbreviation for Digital Visual Interface, not Digital Video Interface. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
75Apple Style Guide
DVR Abbreviation for digital video recorder. Use to refer to a device, such as a portable
media player or set-top box, that records digital video to file-based media such as a hard
disk or an optical disc. Don’t use DVR when you mean camcorder. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms. See also camcorder.
Dynamic Island Precede with the.
The Dynamic Island appears whenever your iPhone is unlocked.
dynamic random-access memory See DRAM.
E
e Short for electronic. Hyphenate terms using the short form: e-commerce, e-learning.
Exceptions include email and ebook. In titles that use title-style capitalization, capitalize as
follows: The Growth of E-Commerce.
earbuds One word.
earlier, later Use to refer to versions of software; don’t use lower and higher or newer and
older.
You can use Apple Fitness+ with iPad (iPadOS 14.3 or later) and Apple
TV 4K or Apple TV HD (tvOS 14.3 or later).
To use Universal Control, you need a Mac with macOS 12.3 or later and
iPad with iPadOS 15.4 or later.
You can do Group Workouts with watchOS 8.1 or later.
See also latest; version number.
earphones One word.
ear tip Lowercase when referring to the silicone ear tips that come with AirPods Pro.
Choose the best-size ear tips for you.
Ear Tip Fit Test Note capitalization.
Use the Ear Tip Fit Test to find out which ear tips provide the best fit.
ebook (n.) An electronic book. See also EPUB (adj.).
editing Don’t use a hyphen when you use editing in a compound adjective.
video editing app, audio editing system
edit menu A type of menu in iOS that lets users perform actions (such as copy, paste, and
select) on objects or text.
76Apple Style Guide
Don’t use edit menu in iOS materials; simply describe what users should tap in the menu.
Correct: Tap Select.
Incorrect: Tap Select in the edit menu.
See also menus.
education Use lowercase in reference to education customers and products.
K–12 education, higher education, Apple education pricing, Apple
education representative
Don’t use abbreviations such as ed, edu, or HED.
e.g. Don’t use; use for example or such as. See also abbreviations and acronyms.
eject (trans. v.) Don’t use as an intransitive verb.
Correct: The disk drive ejects the disk.
Correct: To eject the disk, drag its icon to the Trash.
Incorrect: The disk ejects.
Eject button The button next to the name of a disk, a device, or another item listed in the
sidebar of Finder windows or in other app windows. See also Media Eject key.
electromagnetic interference See EMI.
ellipsis A set of three dots indicating a continuation or, in a quotation, the omission of
one or more words. Use the ellipsis character (Option-Semicolon) to prevent line breaks
from occurring between the dots. For more information about using ellipses, refer to The
Chicago Manual of Style.
If the name of a menu item or button ends with an ellipsis, don’t include the ellipsis in
running text.
Correct: Choose File> New and click a template.
Incorrect: Choose File> New… and click a template.
email (n., v., adj.) One word.
Send an email to your manager.
Your manager wants you to email her.
You can set up email filters.
77Apple Style Guide
When referring to more than one email, use email if you’re using the word in a collective
sense; use emails to refer to a specific group or type of emails.
You can filter incoming email.
Here are tips for how to avoid phishing emails.
Flag important emails to make them easier to find later.
You can use messages to refer to email if the context makes it clear you’re talking about
email, not text messages.
email addresses Email addresses use this format:
username@domain
For example, the address steve@icloud.com specifies a user named “steve” at the icloud.
com domain.
• In text: Use plain text for email addresses in text.
• Line breaks: Avoid line breaks in an email address. If necessary, set the address on a
separate line.
• Punctuation: If an email address ends a sentence, it’s OK to use a period.
See also internet addresses.
email alias Use to refer to an alternate email address created by a user to mask the user’s
main email address.
You can have up to three active email aliases.
You can also send email from an alias.
embed Not imbed.
em dash See dash (em).
Emergency SOS The feature that makes an emergency call. Note capitalization. Use
emergency call, not emergency SOS call, to refer to the type of call placed by this feature.
With Emergency SOS, you can quickly and easily call for help.
To make an emergency call, press and hold the side button, and then
drag the Emergency SOS slider.
EMI Abbreviation for electromagnetic interference. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
emoji Lowercase; same form for singular and plural. Use to refer to small symbols (such
as ) that represent emotions, concepts, or common objects in email and other electronic
communications.
For some emoji, such as those for people, you can click and hold the
emoji to see variations.
If you don’t see the emoji keyboard, you can turn it on in Settings.
78Apple Style Guide
Use regular punctuation with emoji that appear in running text.
Use Clips to personalize your video with filters, animated graphics, and
even emoji .
It’s OK to omit punctuation in special cases, such as the Tips notification below.
See also emoticon.
emoticon A representation of an emotion or a facial expression created with typographic
characters or small symbols.
The emoticon :-) represents a smiley face.
In general, use emoji to refer to characters created using an emoji input method (such as
the TouchBar), even though some emoji are also emoticons.
To add an emoji, such as a smiley face, in your message, tap and tap
the emoji you want to use.
Use regular punctuation with emoticons that appear in running text.
With Enhanced Dictation, you can use voice commands for emoticons.
To produce :-), say “smiley face.”
It’s OK to omit punctuation in special cases, such as when showing an example of a text
message.
See also emoji.
enable (v.), enabled (adj.) Avoid when you mean turn on. Turn on implies initiating
an action or starting a process immediately; enable implies doing a task that makes
subsequent actions possible.
Correct: Turn on Windows file sharing.
Incorrect: Enable Windows file sharing.
Don’t use enabled when you mean selected (for example, when you refer to radio buttons
or checkboxes) or available (when you refer to commands or buttons that are sometimes
dimmed, but not in this case).
Correct: Make sure the Use Touch ID checkbox is selected in Notes
settings.
Incorrect: Make sure the Use Touch ID option is enabled in Notes
settings.
Correct: The Copy command isn’t available because no text is selected.
Incorrect: The Copy command isn’t enabled because no text is selected.
79Apple Style Guide
Don’t use enable when you mean give the ability to. You can usually rewrite a sentence to
avoid it.
Correct: With iMovie, you can view, edit, and share movie projects.
Incorrect: iMovie enables you to view, edit, and share movie projects.
It’s OK to use enable to describe a task that makes other actions possible.
To use this website, you must enable cookies.
See also allow; disable (v.), disabled (adj.); let.
en dash See dash (en).
end user (n.), end-user (adj.) Avoid in favor of user. See also user.
energy management software No hyphen.
energy-saving (adj.) Note hyphenation.
ENERGY STAR Note capitalization.
enhanced definition (n.), enhanced-definition (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective: in
enhanced definition, enhanced-definition TV.
ensure, insure Use ensure to mean make sure or guarantee. Use insure to describe what
an insurance company does.
Insure your car to ensure that it’s covered in an accident.
See also assure.
enter Use enter, not type, to describe inputting text-based information by typing, copying
and pasting, dragging, or some other method. Use type to describe pressing or tapping
keys to produce characters on the screen. Use press, not type, to refer to pressing keys on
the keyboard.
Enter your account information and tap Save.
The intelligent keyboard may suggest corrections as you type.
Press the Return key.
See also press; type (v.).
Enter key Note capitalization.
entitled Don’t use; use titled, named, or called.
Environment An experience on AppleVisionPro that transforms a physical space into a
different setting. Capitalize Environment when referring to both systemwide Environments
(such as Mount Hood) and Environments in Apple apps (such as Conference Room in
Keynote).
Some Environments that come with AppleVisionPro include sound
effects.
You can use the Cinema Environment to watch movies in the Apple TV
app.
Use lowercase environment when referring to custom environments in third-party apps.
80Apple Style Guide
Environments View The view on AppleVisionPro where you can choose an Environment.
See also Apps View; Home View; People View.
EPUB (adj.) A file format for electronic books and other documents. Don’t use as a noun;
to refer generically to an electronic book, use ebook.
Correct: You can import an EPUB file into a template.
Incorrect: You can import an EPUB into a template.
See also file types.
equal sign Not equal’s sign, equals sign, or equal symbol.
error message Don’t use except in developer materials. Instead, use message, alert, alert
message, or alert sound. See also alert (n., adj.).
Escape key See Esc key.
Esc key Include the word Escape in parentheses on first occurrence.
First occurrence: Press the Esc (Escape) key.
Thereafter: Press Esc.
When you describe escape sequences, don’t use a hyphen between names of keys
(because the user presses and releases the keys separately).
Esc 4, Esc F
et al. Abbreviation for and others. Use only to list people (not things) too numerous to
mention—for example, when referring to scholarly books or articles having four or more
authors.
See M. B. Cooper et al., “Reader Preferences for Report Typefaces,…”
Avoid in user materials. See also abbreviations and acronyms.
etc. Don’t use; use and so forth or and so on. See also abbreviations and acronyms.
Ethernet A cable-based system for connecting computers and peripheral devices. OK to
use Ethernet network or simply Ethernet, depending on the context. See also Fast Ethernet
(100Base-T); Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T).
EU No periods. OK to abbreviate or to spell out European Union as a noun. Use the
abbreviation for the adjective form.
events, Events Use lowercase in generic references to events. Capitalize when referring to
the feature in an app such as iMovie, and to capitalized interface elements.
You can use events to group clips any way you like.
To sort events chronologically, choose View> Sort Events By> Oldest
to Newest.
exclamation points OK to use exclamation points occasionally in promotional text and
dialogue. Avoid in documentation.
exit In user materials, don’t use to refer to quitting an open app; use quit. See also
interrupt; quit; stop.
expansion board Not daughter board or piggyback board.
81Apple Style Guide
ExpressCard An industry-standard expansion card technology.
extended desktop (n., adj.) A dual-display mode in which different elements are placed
on each display, such as images on one screen and tools on the other.
external display Use only to refer to a display connected to a laptop computer or to a
computer with a built-in display. For modular computers or unknown configurations, use
additional display. You can also use external monitor. See also display (n.); monitor.
EyeSight AppleVisionPro technology that reveals your eyes on the front display and lets
others know when you’re using apps or are immersed in an experience. Don’t precede
with the.
EyeSight shows your eyes to others when you’re using AppleVisionPro.
Don’t use EyeSight to refer to the front display of Apple Vision Pro; instead use the front
display or just the front.
The Apple logo appears on the front of Apple Vision Pro while it turns
on.
F
F1, F2, F3… Function keys on a keyboard. Capitalize the F and use plain (not italic) style
and arabic numerals. No space between letter and numeral.
Face ID A face recognition technology used for authentication in some iOS and iPadOS
devices.
FaceTime Don’t use as a verb.
failover One word.
Fall Detection Note capitalization.
You can choose to have Fall Detection on only during workouts.
family controls Don’t use; use parental controls.
family pack Use lowercase in general references: a family pack. Capitalize in product
names.
Family Sharing The iCloud feature. Don’t use iCloud Family Sharing.
The person who sets up the family group is the family organizer; users added to the family
group are family members.
On first occurrence, refer to the family the organizer sets up as the family group.
Thereafter you can use simply the family, as long as the context makes it clear you’re
referring to Family Sharing (not to an actual family).
The family organizer sets up Family Sharing and invites people to join
the family group.
Family members’ purchases are available to the rest of the family.
See also Ask to Buy; child’s Apple Account.
82Apple Style Guide
FAQ Abbreviation for frequently asked questions. FAQ is singular; use the article an.
Use FAQs to refer to more than one set of frequently asked questions. Use title-style
capitalization if the full term precedes a noun: the Frequently Asked Questions document.
For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Fast Ethernet (100Base-T) A standard that allows data transmission rates of up to 100
megabits per second. See also Ethernet; Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T).
fast-forward (n., v., adj.) Note hyphen.
Favorites Capitalize only when referring to the Favorites feature or to an onscreen
element.
With Favorites, you can make a call with a single tap.
To make a contact a favorite…
To add someone to your Favorites list...
fax (n., v., adj.) Short for facsimile. Use lowercase; fax isn’t an acronym or an
abbreviation.
FB-DIMM Short for fully buffered DIMM. Precede FB-DIMM with an, not a. See also DIMM;
memory.
female Don’t use to describe a type of connector. Use socket, port, or another term
appropriate to the context.
Correct: Insert the plug into the socket to ensure a reliable connection.
Incorrect: Insert the male endpoint into the female endpoint to ensure a
reliable connection.
See also connector; male; mate.
fewer, less Use fewer for countable items; use less for quantity or bulk.
The fewer devices in your network system, the less cable you need.
Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet using fiber optic cable. See also Gigabit Ethernet
(1000Base-T).
fiber optics (n.), fiber optic (adj.) The adjective isn’t hyphenated (fiber optic cable).
Fibre Channel A high-speed serial data transmission technology.
field Use to refer to the boxes (in windows and dialogs, for example) in which users enter
information. It’s not necessary to specify text field or number field, but if a field has a
name, try to use it. For example:
Enter the video timecode in the Current Timecode field.
Fill in the required fields, and then click Checkout.
For novice users, text box or number box may be more appropriate. These are OK too, but
try to be consistent within a document.
83Apple Style Guide
figure captions Use of figure captions varies by department. Consult your department
guidelines to determine whether to use them.
• Number and title: Most figure captions include both a figure number and a figure title.
Unnumbered figures aren’t included in a list of figures and tables. A figure with a
number must also have a title; a figure with a title generally has a number.
• Title length: Figure titles should be short and to the point; a line and a half should be
considered the absolute maximum.
• Capitalization: Use sentence-style capitalization for figure titles. Don’t end a title with
punctuation, even if the figure title is a complete sentence. Use articles in captions
whenever appropriate.
Correct: The Apple menu
Correct: AirPort Express connected to a printer
Incorrect: AirPort Express Connected to a Printer
• In-text references: Each numbered figure should have an in-text reference to point the
reader to the figure. You can use various styles for in-text references, depending on the
needs of the sentence:
(See Figure 6-2.)
Choose Mail > Settings (see Figure 6-2).
the Page Setup dialog (Figure 3-13) appears…
the Page Setup dialog, shown in Figure 3-13, appears…
Figure 3-1 shows…
You can use more than one style in a project, but don’t use different styles for what’s
essentially the same purpose. For example, don’t use both the first and second styles or
both the third and fourth styles within a project.
figure label Use to refer to text that accompanies a figure but isn’t connected to the figure
with a leader line. (Text with a leader line is a callout.) See also callouts.
figures Line art, photographs, and screenshots are all considered figures. You should
use figures when their presence will enhance the reader’s understanding or illustrate a
procedure or point that isn’t evident from the text alone.
file Refers to any entity stored on a disk, regardless of whether the user can open, edit, or
print it. See also document.
file format Refers to a standard that defines a file’s structure and its method of storing
data. It’s OK to shorten to format if the meaning is clear. In user documentation, don’t use
to refer to a specific kind of file, such as a JPEG file; use file type.
Images stored using the raw file type have a variety of formats, defined
by different camera manufacturers.
In documentation for video apps, it’s customary to use format to refer to the type of media.
You can create multicam clips using media with different formats and
frame rates.
You can set the output format of the shared movie (video and audio, or
just audio).
84Apple Style Guide
It’s also customary to use format when referring to encoding methods.
The MPEG-2 format encodes MPEG-2 stream files for SD DVD and Blu-
ray authoring.
See also file types.
file locations See pathnames.
FileMaker Note capitalization.
filename One word.
You can find a document by typing its filename in the search field.
When referring to specific filenames, match the capitalization shown in the interface. In
user materials, filenames should appear in regular text font; in developer materials, it’s OK
to use code font.
User materials: Name the file Paperdoc.
Developer materials: The folder contains the CurrencyConverter.
nib file.
filename extensions When referring to filename extensions, use lowercase and include the
“dot.”
A filename extension, such as .txt, appears at the end of some
filenames.
You can use files with the .ics or .jpg extension.
You can shorten filename extension to extension if the meaning is clear, but don’t use file
extension.
If an article is needed before a filename extension, use the. If the doesn’t work in a
particular case, assume that dot is pronounced and use a, not an: a .aif extension.
Don’t use filename extensions to refer to file types.
Correct: The image is saved as a JPEG file.
Incorrect: The image is saved as a .jpeg file.
See also file format; file types.
Files app An app on iPhone, iPad, and AppleVisionPro used to access files stored in
iCloud Drive or on external devices or servers. In iOS 10 or earlier, the app was called the
iCloud Drive app.
file server In user materials, use only when you explain what a file server is (a computer
that’s dedicated to holding files shared by users on a network). Use shared disk to refer to
a file server icon on the desktop. See also shared disk.
file sharing (n.), file-sharing (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective. Use lowercase unless
you’re referring to a specific onscreen element that’s capitalized.
Turn on file sharing.
Click the File Sharing icon.
file system (n.), file-system (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
85Apple Style Guide
File Transfer Protocol See FTP.
file types Abbreviations should be in all caps; filename extensions should be in lowercase.
In most cases, you don’t need to spell out on first occurrence. Use to refer to a specific
kind of file, such as a JPEG file or a PDF file. Don’t use file format (a file’s structure and
method of storing data) when you mean file type.
Correct: PNG is a file type popular for web images.
Incorrect: PNG is a file format popular for web images.
When possible, use just file.
The photo is exported as a JPEG file.
For better playback performance, Final Cut Pro transcodes all MP3
audio files to MOV audio files.
The following table shows the abbreviations and extensions for some common file types.
Abbreviation Extension
AIFF .aif
CAF .caf
DMG .dmg
GIF .gif
JPEG .jpg
MP3 .mp3
PDF .pdf
RTF .rtf
TIFF .tif
WAV, WAVE .wav
See also file format; filename extensions.
Finder Use the with Finder (exception to the rule to not use the with app names).
firewall One word.
FireWire A high-speed industry-standard technology (IEEE 1394) developed by Apple for
connecting peripheral devices to personal computers.
Products are FireWire equipped, not FireWire enabled. A FireWire cable is described
according to its connector type, such as a 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire cable.
firmware One word.
first person Don’t use the first-person pronouns we, us, or I; rewrite in terms of the reader
or the product.
86Apple Style Guide
Fit Dial The dial that lets you adjust the fit of AppleVisionPro. You turn the Fit Dial; you
don’t rotate it.
fixed-point (adj.) Note hyphenation.
fixed-width (adj.) Preferred term to describe fonts, such as Courier, in which each
character takes up the same amount of space on the line. Synonymous with monospaced.
flash A type of memory or storage with no moving parts. Related terms include flash drive,
flash memory, and flash storage.
flashing Don’t use to describe the insertion point; use blinking for this purpose.
flat-blade screwdriver Note hyphenation.
flat-panel (adj.) Note hyphenation.
flick (n., v.) Use only in developer documentation. In user materials, use swipe. See also
drag; gestures; swipe (n., v.).
floating-point (adj.) Note hyphenation.
flowchart One word.
Fn key Capitalize when you refer to the Fn key on many keyboards. On first occurrence,
you can say the Fn (Function) key; thereafter, use the Fn key.
Focus Capitalize Focus when referring to the overall feature or to an individual Focus.
Don’t use an article when referring to the feature, but use an article when referring to an
individual Focus.
Focus lets you tune out distractions.
Click Add, and then choose a Focus.
Capitalize the names of provided Focus options (the Sleep Focus, the Driving Focus). Don’t
use the plural (Focuses); use Focus options.
Users can choose, turn on, or use a Focus (don’t use activate). To stop using a Focus,
users turn it off.
Correct: Turn a Focus on or off in Control Center.
Correct: Use the Work Focus to work without distractions.
Incorrect: Activate a Focus in Control Center.
When a Focus is on, use on or active to describe it (don’t use turned on).
Correct: When a Focus is active…
Incorrect: When a Focus is turned on…
See also Reduce Interruptions.
Focus filters Note capitalization.
Use Focus filters to hide specific content in some apps while you’re
using a Focus.
87Apple Style Guide
folder An organizational unit, or container, used to organize files and other folders into a
hierarchical structure known as a file system. In developer materials, folders are usually
referred to as directories.
Capitalize folder names according to how they’re named and how they appear on the
screen. Capitalize the word Folder only if it appears in the folder name.
Burn Folder [The word Folder appears in the folder name on the
screen.]
Applications folder [The word folder doesn’t appear on the screen.]
Use a user’s [folder name] folder or your [folder name] folder to refer to folders in an
individual user’s home folder (for example, a user’s Library folder or your Library folder).
Use the [folder name] folder to refer to folders shared by all users of a computer (for
example, the Library folder). If there’s risk of confusion about whether the folder you’re
referring to belongs to a specific user or is shared by all users, you can describe its
location: the Library folder in your home folder, the Library folder at the top level of
the disk.
See also directory; pathnames.
font In digital typography, a design for a set of characters (for example, Helvetica). Don’t
use font family, typeface, or face.
You can change the title’s font using the Text inspector.
See also font size; font style.
font size Not type size. When the meaning is clear, it’s OK to use just size.
font style Not typestyle or typeface attribute. Refers to one or more attributes such as
boldface, underline, italic, shadow, and so on. When the meaning is clear, it’s OK to use
just style.
Fonts window The systemwide window in macOS for selecting fonts, styles, sizes, and
other text features.
foot Note hyphenation when used as an adjective: 3-foot height, 3-foot-high table, but
is 3 feet high. The abbreviation (ft.) is the same in the singular and the plural. It’s OK to
abbreviate in tables and technical specifications, but don’t abbreviate in body text. Don’t
use the symbol unless space limitations prevent the use of foot or ft.
footnotes See tables.
force click (v.) Use to describe the act of pressing a Force Touch trackpad until you feel a
deeper click.
Force click a file’s icon to see a quick preview of the file.
See also click and hold; Force Touch.
force quit In user materials, it’s preferable to say force an app to quit.
Acceptable: If an app doesn’t respond, you can force quit it.
Preferable: If an app doesn’t respond, you can force it to quit.
88Apple Style Guide
Force Touch A technology used in trackpads that senses how hard the user presses. A
trackpad that uses Force Touch technology is called a Force Touch trackpad. Don’t use
Force Touch as a verb; use force click or press harder. See also force click (v.); press.
format (n.) Refers to the arrangement and appearance of text, graphics, and other
elements (such as footers) on a page. See also file format.
format (v.) When you refer to disks, format and initialize mean the same thing.
form factor Avoid; use design, enclosure, or another term.
Forward button Use to refer to a button—usually in a toolbar or navigation bar—that lets
users move forward to the next screen or webpage.
See also right arrow.
forward compatibility Not future compatibility or upward compatibility.
forward-compatible (adj.) Note hyphenation.
Forward Delete key A key that deletes the character to the right of the insertion point.
• Apple keyboards: On the Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, this key is labeled
delete, and it also has a right-pointing arrow with an x in it. OK to abbreviate as Fwd Del
if space is tight. Apple keyboards without a numeric keypad don’t have this key.
• Windows keyboards: On Windows keyboards, the equivalent to the Forward Delete key
is the Delete key; the key that’s equivalent to the Apple Delete key is the Backspace key.
fps Abbreviation for frames per second. Include a space between the number and fps: 24
fps. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
fractions In user materials, spell out fractions whose denominator is 10 or lower except in
specification lists, technical appendixes, or tables. For the spelled-out forms, hyphenate
the fractions: one-tenth, one-fifth, three-fourths.
This app uses one-fifth of available memory.
The other app uses only 1/20 of available memory.
When you express a noninteger greater than 1 in fractional form, use a mixed numeral
rather than an improper fraction.
Correct: 1 1/6
Incorrect: 7/6
frame Use to refer to the main structural component of AppleVisionPro.
Detach the Light Seal from the frame.
frame buffer Two words.
frame rate Two words.
frames per second See fps.
89Apple Style Guide
free Don’t use to refer to available memory or storage space; use available.
FreeBSD Note spelling.
freeze Use to refer to the behavior of a pointer on the screen. Avoid using freeze as a noun
or to refer to something the computer does. Instead, use a phrase such as not responding.
Correct: If the pointer freezes, or if the computer stops responding to
the mouse, trackpad, or keyboard, follow these instructions.
Incorrect: If the computer freezes, follow these instructions.
Incorrect: If you experience a freeze, follow these instructions.
freeze frame (n.), freeze-frame (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
You can add a freeze-frame clip to your movie to temporarily stop the
action onscreen.
frequently asked questions See FAQ.
front end (n.), front-end (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
front, frontmost The active window is the front or frontmost window. See also active; in
front.
front panel (n.), front-panel (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
FTP Abbreviation for File Transfer Protocol. Avoid as a verb; use transfer files instead. The
UNIX command ftp is all lowercase. In the term anonymous FTP, the a is lowercase. For
guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Correct: You can use FTP software to transfer files from a remote
computer to your computer.
Correct: You use the ftp command to transfer files from a remote
computer to your computer.
Incorrect: You can FTP files from a remote computer to your computer.
full Use a hyphen in compound adjectives beginning with full.
full-duplex, full-featured, full-height, full-page, full-screen, full-size
Don’t use a hyphen with fully.
fully buffered, fully charged, fully loaded
full-screen (adj.), full screen (pred. adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective: full-screen
controls, view full screen. OK to use full-screen window to refer to a window that’s in full-
screen view: This action has no effect on a full-screen window.
functionality In user materials, avoid if you can use a word such as features instead.
Avoid: Some functionality is not available in certain regions.
Preferable: Some features are not available in certain regions.
Function key See Fn key.
90Apple Style Guide
function keys The keys on a keyboard labeled F1, F2, F3, and so on. Note that function is
lowercase.
Fusion Drive A storage technology consisting of flash storage combined with a high-
capacity hard drive. See also drive.
future tense Whenever possible, use present, not future, tense. Don’t switch
unnecessarily from present to future tense when present tense is sufficient to express a
sequence of steps or events.
• Conditional constructions: Use present tense for conditional constructions such as the
following:
Correct: If the noWait parameter is true, play from the disk stops
immediately, and program control returns to the caller.
Incorrect: If the noWait parameter is true, play from the disk will stop
immediately, and program control will return to the caller.
• Future events: Future tense is sometimes appropriate—for example, when a product
described isn’t yet available.
Apple will give users a peek at the new app by releasing a public beta.
Next year students at Clareton High School will use EPUB textbooks in
their math classes.
Fwd Del key See Forward Delete key.
G
gallery view In Finder windows, a way to display and select items as horizontally scrolling
thumbnails. In the Notes app, a way to display notes in a grid of thumbnails.
Gallery View button In Finder windows, the rightmost button in the View control.
Also a button in the Notes app for displaying notes as thumbnails.
GB (n., adj.) Abbreviation for gigabyte. GB equals 1000
3
bytes in the context of file size or
storage capacity, and 1024
3
bytes in the context of computer memory. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. Use the
preposition of before the unit that the value quantifies.
20 GB of memory
320 GB of storage capacity
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
a 1 GB SO-DIMM
a 320 GB hard drive
91Apple Style Guide
Gbit (n., adj.) Abbreviation for gigabit. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. Use the
preposition of before the unit that the value quantifies.
10 Gbit of memory
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
10 Gbit memory
Gbit/s Standard international abbreviation for gigabits per second. See also Names and
unit symbols for units of measure and abbreviations and acronyms.
GB/s Abbreviation for gigabytes per second. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
gender See Gender identity; pronouns.
generation Refers to products that were released at a particular time or that share a
common design or features. Hyphenate compound adjectives that include the word
generation: sixth-generation iPad mini, second-generation chip, previous-generation Mac
Studio. When the generation follows the name, use the numeral: iPad (5th generation).
Don’t shorten generation to gen or G—for example, 10th-gen iPad or iPad 9G.
If a list includes models identified by chip and models identified by generation, use the
following format:
iPad (8th, 9th, and 10th generation) and iPad (A16)
iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) and iPad mini (A17 Pro)
See also iPad; iPod.
Genius An Apple Music feature that plays songs that go well together. Genius can be used
alone (don’t precede with the) or in terms such as the following:
Genius feature, Genius Mix, Genius Playlist, Genius recommendations
Genmoji An Apple Intelligence feature. Use Genmoji for both singular and plural.
Learn how to create a Genmoji based on a photo from your photo
library.
You can add Genmoji to your messages.
See also Animoji; emoji; Memoji.
gestures Refers to finger movements used on a touchscreen or trackpad or with
AppleVisionPro. Don’t refer to them as finger gestures; use simply gestures.
When you write instructions that include gestures, in general, don’t include the word finger.
Correct: Swipe left or right.
Incorrect: Swipe your finger left or right.
92Apple Style Guide
However, you can refer to fingers if the gesture involves multiple fingers or is complex.
Triple-tap with two fingers.
Touch and hold the object with one finger, and use another finger to
swipe in the direction you want the object to move.
You can also refer to fingers to provide greater detail when you first define or describe a
gesture; subsequent occurrences can omit finger.
Defining reference: Pinch two fingers together or apart to zoom out or
in.
Other occurrences: Pinch to zoom in on the page.
When describing the act of scrolling through documents and other items, it’s often
preferable to simply use scroll instead of specific gestures such as drag or swipe.
See also drag; pinch (v.); rotate; scroll; swipe (n., v.); tap (n., v.); touch; touch and hold.
GHz (n., adj.) Abbreviation for gigahertz. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: Use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation.
at a rate of 3.0 GHz
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate.
a 3.0 GHz processor
GIF Acronym for Graphics Interchange Format, a bitmapped graphics file format that
includes data compression. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations
and acronyms. See also file format.
gigabit See Gbit (n., adj.).
Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T) A standard that allows data transmission rates of up
to 1 gigabit per second (1000 megabits per second). See also Ethernet; Fast Ethernet
(100Base-T); Fiber Gigabit Ethernet.
gigabits per second See Gbit/s.
gigabyte See GB (n., adj.).
gigabytes per second See GB/s.
gigahertz See GHz (n., adj.).
glyph In typography, a distinct visual representation of a character. OK to use when
referring to the appearance of characters (such as for a particular font) or to explain the
term in an app’s UI. Otherwise, use character.
In Font Book, you can print a grid with all the glyphs (characters and
symbols) in a font. To set the glyph size for printing, drag the Glyph
Size slider.
Use the Keyboard Viewer to see where characters for other languages
are located on your keyboard.
See also character; font.
93Apple Style Guide
GPU Abbreviation for graphics processing unit. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms. See also graphics card.
Grab Capitalize when referring to the Grab app. Don’t use as a verb.
grab point In iOS, one of a set of movable points around a text selection.
grandfathered, grandfathered in Don’t use; use an alternative that’s appropriate to the
context, such as legacy, exempt, or preexisting. Or reword the sentence using you can
keep, allowed to remain, or similar wording.
Correct: You can keep your plan if you purchased it before January 1,
2021.
Incorrect: Your plan is grandfathered in if you purchased it before
January 1, 2021.
graphical (adj.) Use to refer to visual art or information.
You can provide a graphical representation, such as a chart or diagram.
See also graphic, graphics (adj.).
graphical user interface See interface.
graphic, graphics (n.) Use to refer to one or more computer-generated images used for
illustration.
Click the graphic you want to add.
Graphics help break up dense text.
Use Motion to build fluid 3D motion graphics for show intros,
commercials, or title sequences.
See also graphic, graphics (adj.).
graphic, graphics (adj.) Use graphic to refer to the field of visual communication.
Apple is known for its innovative graphic design.
Use graphics to refer to software or hardware used to process graphics.
You can use advanced graphics software on the Mac.
Several models include integrated graphics processing units.
See also graphic, graphics (n.).
graphics card Use for the card that controls display of the computer interface on the
primary display. Not video card. See also GPU.
Graphics Interchange Format See GIF.
graphics processing unit See GPU.
94Apple Style Guide
gray Not grey.
grayed Don’t use; use dimmed.
grayscale (n., adj.) One word.
greater-than sign Use greater-than sign, not greater-than symbol, to describe the >
symbol. You can also use right angle bracket if appropriate in the context. See also angle
brackets.
grey Don’t use; use gray.
grille Note spelling: grille pitch, speaker grille.
grounded outlet Not three-prong outlet.
grow box Don’t use; use resize control.
Guest User Capitalize when referring to the feature that lets you temporarily share
AppleVisionPro with a guest. To refer to the guest, use guest user or just guest. Don't use
Guest User Mode or Guest Mode.
With Guest User, other people can use your AppleVisionPro, and you
choose which apps they can open.
The guest may need to adjust the fit before using your AppleVisionPro.
GUI Acronym for graphical user interface. Don’t use. Instead, use interface (in user
materials) or UI (in developer materials).
Guided Access A feature that lets you restrict a device to one app and control which of
the app’s features are available. You start and end a Guided Access session.
Before you start a Guided Access session, open the app you want to
use.
Guides Capitalize when referring to Guides offered in the Maps app by Apple and its
partners.
You can save Guides, and they’re updated automatically when new
locations are added.
Use lowercase when referring to guides users create in the Maps app.
You can organize places into your own guides and share them with
friends.
H
H.264 A video compression standard (or video codec). Also known as MPEG-4 Part 10 and
AVC (or Advanced Video Coding).
half Use a hyphen in compound adjectives beginning with half.
half-duplex, half-height, half-hour, half-length
handheld (adj.) One word.
95Apple Style Guide
handle Use to refer to a small control on the edge of an object that can be dragged to
move or change the object.
Don’t use drag handle. In apps that have more than one type of handle, you may need
to describe or name handles (for example, white handle, outer handle, corner handle,
selection handle, fade handle, trim handle).
Correct: Drag the outer handle away from the center circle.
Correct: To set the direction of the effect, drag the rotation handle.
Incorrect: A drag handle appears on the motion path.
See also grab point.
hands-free (adj.) Note hyphenation.
hands-on (adj.) Note hyphenation.
handicapped Don’t use to refer to people with disabilities. See also Writing about
disability.
hang Don’t use as a description of the computer’s behavior in response to a system error;
use a phrase such as not responding.
Correct: If the computer doesn’t respond to input from the mouse,
trackpad, or keyboard, a system error may have occurred.
Incorrect: If the computer hangs, a system error may have occurred.
See also freeze.
haptic (adj.), haptics (n.) Refers to technology that uses touch (for example, a tap) to
give users feedback. In user materials, define haptics on first use.
You can adjust the strength of the wrist taps—or haptics—AppleWatch
uses for notifications.
Avoid using haptic or haptics when you can reword to describe what the user feels.
Preferable: You feel a tap when your message is sent.
Avoid: You receive a haptic alert when your message is sent.
See also tap (n., v.); Taptic Engine.
Haptic Touch A technology used in some devices that provides additional features when
the user touches and holds an item on the screen. See also 3D Touch; Force Touch.
hard copy Avoid; use a term such as printout, print version, or printed document.
hardcover One word.
96Apple Style Guide
hard disk (n., adj.) Use to refer to a magnetic disk.
The files are stored on the server’s hard disk.
When referring broadly to computer storage media, which can include solid-state drives
and flash storage, use just disk or a more general term such as storage device.
You can use Disk Utility to manage internal disks and external storage
devices.
See also hard drive; storage device.
hard drive Use to refer to the mechanism that holds a magnetic disk and accesses its
contents.
You can back up your Mac using an external hard drive.
It’s also OK to use the more formal termhard disk drive, especially in contexts where it’s
important to be precise.
When referring broadly to computer storage media, which can include other types of
storage such as solid-state drives and flash storage, use storage device.
You can connect an external storage device to your computer.
See also drive; hard disk (n., adj.).
hard of hearing See deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf.
HD (n., adj.) Abbreviation for high definition (n.) and high-definition (adj.). For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
HDMI Abbreviation for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. Related terms include HDMI
port, HDMI input, HDMI output, HDMI cable, HDMI to HDMI cable, and HDMI to DVI cable.
For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms. See also
video input, video input/output, video output (n., adj.).
HDR (n., adj.) Abbreviation for high dynamic range (n.) and high-dynamic-range (adj.). A
video or still-image format that allows additional levels of brightness per color component.
See also SDR (n., adj.).
HDV A format for recording and playback of high-definition video on standard DV cassette
tapes using a form of MPEG-2 compression. Don’t use HDV to refer in general to high-
definition video. Related terms include the following:
HDV format, HDV standard, HDV video, HDV camera, HDV camcorder
head band Two words (exception to Merriam-Webster). Lowercase when referring
generically to the bands that secure AppleVisionPro to your head. Capitalize the names of
specific bands: Solo Knit Band, Dual Loop Band.
headphone (adj.) Related terms include headphone jack and headphone port.
headset Don’t use to refer to AppleVisionPro. See also Apple Vision Pro.
heads-up display See HUD.
97Apple Style Guide
hearing health A set of features on AirPods Pro 2. Hearing health features include the
following:
• Hearing Aid: Use the name with feature.
You need AirPods Pro 2 to use the Hearing Aid feature.
• Hearing Protection: You can use the name with or without feature.
Before using the Hearing Protection feature, make sure your AirPods
have the proper fit.
Hearing Protection is on by default when you use Transparency mode.
• Hearing Test: You can use the name with or without feature. OK to shorten to just test if
it’s clear in context what you’re referring to.
Learn how to use the Hearing Test feature on your AirPods Pro 2.
Take a Hearing Test with your AirPods Pro 2.
After taking a Hearing Test, you can retake the test whenever you want.
In general references—when you’re not discussing the Apple features specifically—use
lowercase.
You can use compatible hearing aids with iPhone.
You can take a Hearing Test with your AirPods Pro 2, or you can use an
existing hearing test result (for example, from your hearing healthcare
professional).
hearing impaired Don’t use. See also deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf; impairment; Writing
about disability.
heat sink Two words.
help Don’t use when referring to documentation that has user guide in its title—even if the
user guide can be opened from the Help menu.
To view the Safari User Guide, choose Help > Safari Help.
In developer materials, it’s OK to use help and help book when referring to documentation
delivered in Help Viewer on Mac.
To display help in Help Viewer, you must create and register a help
book.
Help button A button that opens Help Viewer. The standard Help button has a question
mark graphic.
98Apple Style Guide
help tag Use to refer to the instructional text that appears when the user holds the pointer
over an interface element. Exception: In content for developers, use tooltip instead.
hexadecimal In user materials, don’t use hex as a short form. In developer materials, hex
is OK, but spell out hexadecimal on first occurrence. Use a preceding 0x to designate a
hexadecimal number.
hexagonal-head screw Not hex-head screw.
HFS Plus Not HFS+. The technical name for a file system used to format a disk for use
with macOS. (HFS stands for hierarchical file system.) Avoid in user materials; use MacOS
Extended format instead. See also MacOS Extended format.
HFS Plus (Journaled) Not HFS+ (Journaled). Avoid in user materials; use MacOS
Extended (Journaled) format instead. See also MacOS Extended (Journaled) format.
high Use a hyphen in compound adjectives beginning with high.
high-bandwidth, high-definition, high-level, high-quality, high-
resolution
high bit (n.), high-bit (adj.) Not hi bit or hi-bit. High bit is an acceptable short form for
the noun high-order bit.
high definition (n.), high-definition (adj.) See HD (n., adj.).
high dynamic range (n.), high-dynamic-range (adj.) See HDR (n., adj.).
highlight (v.) Don’t use when you mean select.
Correct: Select the text you want to change.
Incorrect: Highlight the text you want to change.
Don’t use as an intransitive verb.
Correct: As you type in the search field, matching icons are highlighted
in the window below.
Incorrect: As you type in the search field, matching icons highlight in
the window below.
See also highlighted (adj.); highlighting (n.); select (v.).
highlighted (adj.) Not hilighted. Don’t use inverted except in developer materials. When
explaining highlighting, use a highlighted icon changes color or a highlighted icon is
filled in.
Correct: When you click the icon, it becomes highlighted.
Incorrect: When you click the icon, it highlights.
Don’t use unhighlighted or dehighlighted for an item that isn’t highlighted; use not
highlighted.
99Apple Style Guide
highlighting (n.) Don’t use in user materials. OK to use in developer materials.
When an app displays a selection range, it marks the range with
highlighting.
high-order bit (n.) Not hi bit or hi-bit. High bit is an acceptable short form.
high resolution (n.), high-resolution (adj.) Not hi-res. The short form high-res (n., adj.) is
OK in developer materials or when space constraints don’t allow use of the full phrase (as
in column headings in tables).
Hindi Don’t use when you refer to the writing system used to represent Hindi and several
other Asian languages; use Devanagari.
hi-res Don’t use; use high resolution (n.) or high-resolution (adj.). See also high resolution
(n.), high-resolution (adj.).
hit (n.) Don’t use when talking about search results. OK to use to refer to webpage visits.
Correct: Search results appear below.
Incorrect: Search hits appear below.
Acceptable: This website gets many hits per day.
Preferable: This website gets many visits per day.
hit (v.) Don’t use to instruct users to press a key or touch a screen; use press or tap
instead. See also press; tap (n., v.).
hold down Don’t use to describe the act of pressing the mouse or trackpad, a key on the
keyboard, or a mechanical button until an action or result occurs. Use press and hold. See
also press and hold.
Home button The physical button on some iOS and iPadOS devices that returns the user
to the Home Screen. For devices with a Home button, use press to mean pressing the
Home button once; use double-click or triple-click to mean pressing it more than once.
home folder, home directory In macOS, a home folder is a folder for a user’s
personal use.
Your home folder provides a secure place to keep your documents.
In developer materials, use home directory.
See also directory; folder; pathnames.
homepage Use to refer to a webpage that serves as the directory or entry point to a
website. Don’t use landing page or portal. Don’t use homepage to refer to an entire
website.
Correct: The Apple homepage has links to product information,
including purchasing options.
Correct: Visit the Apple website for more information about Apple
products.
Incorrect: You can purchase products on the Apple homepage.
100Apple Style Guide
HomePod In general references, don’t use an article with HomePod. When referring to the
user’s particular HomePod, it’s OK to use your.
If you need to refer to more than one HomePod, you can use HomePod speakers.
If you have two HomePod speakers in the same room, you can set them
up as a stereo pair.
Home Screen The main screen on iPhone, iPad, or AppleTV, and one of the two main
screens on Apple Watch (the other is the watch face).
The Home Screen contains icons representing the apps on the device. On some devices,
you can browse between pages of the Home Screen.
The Home Screen on AppleTV provides easy access to apps and
settings.
The dots above the Dock show how many Home Screen pages you have
and which one you’re viewing.
Home View The main view on Apple Vision Pro. From Home View, you can navigate
between Apps View, Environments View, and People View. While viewing your apps, you
can browse between pages in Home View.
To quickly return to the first page of apps, tap Apps in the tab bar.
home theater (n., adj.) Note spelling: your home theater, a home theater system.
hostname One word.
hotspot, hot spot Use hotspot to refer to a place where users can connect to a public
wireless network. Use hot spot to refer to the VoiceOver feature or to refer to an area of a
graphics object, or a section of text, that users can click to activate a function.
You can connect to the internet from public hotspots.
You can use VoiceOver hot spots to mark up to ten items that you want
to return to later.
A hot spot in a virtual museum scene could link to another room in
the museum, or the hot spot could allow you to manipulate one of the
objects in the museum.
hover (v.) Avoid using hover over to describe the act of holding the pointer over an
onscreen element until something occurs. Use hold the pointer over or move the pointer to
instead.
Correct: Hold the pointer over an address, and then click the arrow that
appears.
Correct: Move the pointer to the right of Auto-Play, click the pop-up
menu, and then choose an option.
Avoid: Hover over a participant’s name, and then click the More button.
Don’t use hover the pointer over.
See also Apple Pencil hover; Hover Text.
101Apple Style Guide
Hover Text Note capitalization. It’s OK to use Hover Text to refer to the accessibility
feature, but when writing instructions or describing how to use the feature, use alternatives
like hold the pointer over.
Hover Text makes it easier to view text on the screen.
To use Hover Text, press the Control key and hold the pointer over any
text.
See also hover (v.).
HTML Abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language. Use lowercase when the abbreviation
is part of a URL. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and
acronyms.
A file can be in HTML or an HTML file, but it isn’t in HTML format (because HTML isn’t a
format).
If you know HTML, you can create webpages.
You can find the file at this address: http://www.books.com/classics.
html.
See also internet addresses; URL.
HTTP Abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Use lowercase when the abbreviation
is part of a URL. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and
acronyms. See also HTML; internet addresses; URL.
HUD Acronym for heads-up display, a window for making adjustments and selecting
options in some apps. Precede HUD with a, not an. Avoid unless the term appears in
the user interface. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and
acronyms.
humor Humor can enhance documentation by adding to a reader’s enjoyment and by
helping to lighten the tone. Humor usually works best in examples, where it’s less likely to
distract the reader.
Be careful that your humor is in good taste—one reader’s joke can be another reader’s
insult—and keep in mind that humor may not translate well in localized text.
See also Writing inclusively.
hypertext link Don’t use; use link. See also link (n.).
Hypertext Markup Language See HTML.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol See HTTP.
102Apple Style Guide
hyphenation In general, hyphenate two words that precede and modify a noun as a unit.
Follow this rule especially when:
• Confusion might result if the hyphen were omitted, as in parameter-list pointer or read-
only memory.
• The second word is a past or present participle, as in binary-coded decimal or color-
matching algorithm.
• The two modifiers are a number or a single letter and a noun or a participle, as in 32-bit
color or D-shaped connector.
Follow these guidelines for specific cases:
• Units of measure: When you use a spelled-out unit of measure in a compound adjective,
hyphenate the compound (27-inch screen). When you use an abbreviation or a metric
unit of measure, including KB, MB, mm, and so on, don’t hyphenate (500 GB hard disk).
• Location compounds: Hyphenate compounds such as lower-left corner, top-right
portion.
• Adverbs: Don’t hyphenate compounds with very or with adverbs that end in -ly.
very high speed
recently completed project
• Keyboard shortcuts using combination keystrokes: Use hyphens to signify that the
first key or keys should be held down while the last key is pressed. (Don’t use hyphens
if each key should be pressed and released separately.) Make sure you explain this
convention on first use.
Control-Shift-N
Esc N
See also dash (en).
I
I-beam Refers to this pointer:
iBooks Use iBooks to refer to versions of the Apple ebook app released before iOS 12 and
macOS Mojave. Use Apple Books for versions of the app released with iOS 12 or later and
macOS Mojave or later. See also Apple Books.
iCloud Capitalize the C in iCloud in all references to iCloud or the iCloud website (iCloud.
com). Don’t capitalize the C in email addresses or when giving the URL for a particular
domain of the iCloud website (icloud.com/calendar).
To sign up for iCloud, go to iCloud.com.
Enter the recipient’s email address (for example, j.appleseed@icloud.
com).
103Apple Style Guide
In user materials, avoid referring to iCloud as a service; simply call it iCloud. In addition,
avoid referring to iCloud features (such as iCloud Mail, iCloud Calendar, or Find My)
as services or web apps; refer to them as features, or simply discuss each feature by
its name.
• In or on: Use in to refer to where content is stored (in iCloud, in iCloud Drive); use on to
refer to where users can access content (on iCloud.com).
You can store files in iCloud Drive and access them from any device or
on iCloud.com.
You can say content is in the cloud if the context makes it clear you’re referring to
iCloud.
With iCloud, you can store all of your content in the cloud and access it
wherever you go.
• Signing in: To access iCloud features, users sign in to their AppleAccount. Don’t use
sign in to iCloud.
Correct: Your music library is available on all your devices where you’re
signed in to the same Apple Account.
Incorrect: Your music library is available on all your devices where
you’re signed in to iCloud.
Exception: Users sign in to or sign out of the iCloud.com website.
Don’t use the term iCloud account.
Correct: If you use iCloud, you can share a reminder list with other
iCloud users.
Incorrect: If you have an iCloud account, you can share a reminder list
with other iCloud users.
See also Apple Account.
• What iCloud does: iCloud syncs content between the user’s device and the cloud. Use
sync with to refer generally to syncing devices with iCloud.
Sync the photos and videos on your iPhone with iCloud.
In most cases, use sync to—not upload and download—to refer to the transfer of
content to iCloud from a device, or vice versa.
While photos are being synced to iCloud…
However, you can use upload or download to refer to one-time transfers of content.
To upload files to iCloud Drive, drag them to the iCloud Drive window.
You can download the original photos from iCloud whenever you need them.
Don’t say that iCloud syncs devices with each other; instead, describe content as being
available from every device, updated automatically across all your devices, and similar
alternatives.
iCloud keeps your contacts up to date across all your devices.
Any photos you take appear automatically on every device.
It’s OK to occasionally use phrases like iCloud keeps your data in sync.
104Apple Style Guide
• iCloud storage: Users upgrade their iCloud storage; they don’t purchase storage or
increase their storage quota. Don’t use iCloud storage to refer to iCloud (you can store
your documents in iCloud, not you can store your documents in iCloud storage).
See also iCloud Drive; iCloud Photos; Shared Albums.
iCloud Drive An iCloud feature that allows users to store documents in iCloud and access
them from multiple computers and devices. Documents are stored in iCloud Drive, or saved
or moved to iCloud Drive.
When you turn on iCloud Drive, documents you’ve already stored in
iCloud are moved to iCloud Drive.
iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro users access files in iCloud Drive using the Files app.
iCloud Photo Library Don’t use; use iCloud Photos. See also iCloud Photos; iCloud Shared
Photo Library.
iCloud Photos An iCloud feature that stores users’ photos in iCloud and keeps them up to
date on every device with iCloud Photos turned on. Don’t use iCloud Photo Library, iCloud
photo library, or your iCloud Photos. You turn on or turn off iCloud Photos. Photos are
stored in iCloud, not backed up to iCloud Photos. See also iCloud.
iCloud Photo Sharing Don’t use; use Shared Albums. See also Shared Albums.
iCloud+ A subscription service that provides additional iCloud features and storage. Don’t
use iCloud Plus or other variations.
When you upgrade to iCloud+, you get even more storage, along with
enhanced privacy features.
iCloud Shared Photo Library Use the full name when referring to the feature. It’s OK to
use Shared Photo Library or shared library to refer to an individual shared library. Use
personal library to refer to someone’s personal photo library.
iCloud Shared Photo Library lets you share photos and videos with up to
five other people.
You can switch between your shared library and your personal library.
See also Shared Albums.
iCloud Tabs button Use to refer to the button users can add to the Safari toolbar.
105Apple Style Guide
icon An onscreen graphic that represents another item, such as a file in a Finder window
or an album in Photos.
• Icons that don’t act like buttons: If an element in the user interface looks like an icon
(is a graphic but isn’t enclosed in a rectangular border) and doesn’t act like a button
(doesn’t initiate an action when clicked or tapped), always call it an icon.
• Icons that act like buttons: If an element in the user interface looks like an icon (is
a graphic but isn’t enclosed in a rectangular border) but acts like a button (causes
something to happen when clicked or tapped), call it a button.
You can also simply refer to it by what it looks like (use lowercase):
Exception: Sometimes app icons act like buttons—for example, icons in the macOS
Dock or on the iOS Home Screen—but they’re still referred to as icons (Click the System
Settings icon in the Dock).
• Unnamed icons: If an icon doesn’t have a label or an established name, describe its
appearance or function. Use lowercase. If you include an inline graphic of the icon,
don’t enclose it in parentheses.
The speaker icon appears next to the song that’s playing.
If an item has a display icon next to it, it’s a video.
See also button.
icon view A way to display and select items by viewing them as icons—for example, the
icon view in Finder windows.
You can view items in Finder windows as icons, in a list, in columns, or
in gallery view.
Icon View button The leftmost button in the View control in Finder windows.
i.e. Don’t use; use that is. See also abbreviations and acronyms.
106Apple Style Guide
IEEE Abbreviation for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
if necessary Avoid in user materials. Instead, describe the circumstance in which the
action would be necessary.
Correct: If file sharing isn’t on, turn it on.
Incorrect: If necessary, turn on file sharing.
Correct: If the file size is larger than the maximum your mail app allows,
compress the file.
Incorrect: If necessary, compress the file.
if, whether Use if to indicate a condition. Use whether when two outcomes are possible.
If you can mentally introduce the words or not in a clause, use whether rather than if.
Correct: When you start editing a locked file, the app asks whether you
want to unlock it.
Incorrect: When you start editing a locked file, the app asks if you want
to unlock it.
Although using if specifies a condition, it can also introduce ambiguity. For instance, Let
her know if he sets up the user account may mean either Let her know whether he sets up
the user account or If he sets up the user account, let her know. Ensure that the condition’s
meaning is clear.
IM Abbreviation for instant message. Don’t use; use message. See also message.
iMac See Mac.
image See photo; still image (n.), still-image (adj.).
Image Playground An Apple Intelligence feature. Refers to both the app and the feature
within other apps. You can refer to the in-app feature as an experience.
Create unique images in the Image Playground app.
You can use Image Playground in apps like Messages and Freeform.
With the Image Playground experience in Messages, you can quickly
create fun images for your friends.
Image Wand An Apple Intelligence feature. Don’t precede with the.
Image Wand can transform your rough sketch into a related image.
You can use Image Wand to create images based on the surrounding
content.
IMAP Acronym for Internet Message Access Protocol. Pronounced “eye-map.” For
guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
imbed Don’t use; use embed.
107Apple Style Guide
iMessage Apple’s secure messaging service for sending and receiving messages in the
Messages app. Use only to refer to the service. Users send a message or messages, not an
iMessage or iMessages.
Correct: You can send messages using iMessage.
Correct: You can turn on iMessage in Messages settings.
Incorrect: If you get an iMessage that looks like spam, you can report it
to Apple.
See also message.
iMovie Don’t use iMovie when you mean movie or project.
Correct: You can share your movie on YouTube.
Incorrect: You can share your iMovie on YouTube.
See also movie.
impairment In general, use disability instead of impairment, or refer to the specific
disability (blind or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing).
iPhone has many built-in features for people with disabilities.
Switch Control allows users with motor challenges to control devices
with head or body movements.
See also blind, low vision; deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf; hearing impaired; visually
impaired; Writing about disability.
Important Use an Important notice to alert the reader to significant potential trouble spots
that don’t cause bodily injury, damage, or loss of data. (Those situations require a Warning
notice.)
Use Important notices and other notices sparingly; they lose effectiveness if they appear
too often. Avoid using an Important notice immediately before or after a note, Warning
notice, or another Important notice, or immediately after a text heading.
See also Note; Warning.
in-app purchase Note lowercase and hyphenation.
inbox Capitalize only when referring to an onscreen label; otherwise, use lowercase.
To see the items in your inbox, click Inbox.
inch (in.) Note hyphenation when used as an adjective: 2-inch height, 1-inch-thin design,
but is 1 inch thin. Use inch, not inches, for measurements of 1 inch or less: 0.76 inch thin.
The abbreviation (in.) is the same in the singular and the plural. It’s OK to abbreviate in
tables and technical specifications, but don’t abbreviate in body text. Don’t use the symbol
unless space limitations prevent the use of inch or in.
inclusive language See Writing inclusively.
Incorporated, Inc. Spell out or abbreviate according to the particular corporation’s
preference.
108Apple Style Guide
incrementer Don’t use to refer to a control that has up and down arrows, or left and right
arrows, to increase or decrease a value. In user materials, use up arrow, down arrow,
right arrow, left arrow, or arrows, as appropriate. For example, Click one of the arrows to
increase or decrease the volume. If it’s necessary to refer to the control itself, use stepper.
See also stepper.
indeterminate progress bar In developer materials, the progress bar that has a spinning
striped cylinder. In user materials, use progress indicator and describe what it looks like.
Developer materials: Use an indeterminate progress bar when the
duration of a process can’t be determined.
User materials: A progress indicator (a spinning striped cylinder) lets
you know that a process is taking place.
See also asynchronous progress indicator.
index Use to refer to the vertical column of letters at the right side of a list in iOS apps.
indexes Not indices, unless you mean mathematical indices.
indicator See progress indicator.
indicator light Not LED.
industry standard (n.), industry-standard (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective: the
industry standard, an industry-standard video format.
information Use instead of data in user materials if it makes sense in the context. See
also data.
information card In the Maps app, use to refer to an overlay that provides information
about a location.
Info window Not Get Info window or Info box.
infrared No hyphen.
109Apple Style Guide
in front Use to explain the term active (the active window is in front of other windows);
subsequently, use active. You can also use to describe windows that “float” on top of
active windows. See also active; front, frontmost.
initialize When you refer to disks, initialize and format mean the same thing.
inkjet One word.
inline One word.
in order to Don’t use unless absolutely necessary; use just to.
input (n., adj.) Avoid using as a verb; instead, use enter or type, depending on the context.
Input menu A menu on the right side of the macOS menu bar that allows users to select
the language and input method to use on their Mac. Depending on the user’s settings, the
menu icon may be a region or language code (for example, for German), a character
(for example, for Japanese), or a window with a Command key symbol .
input/output See I/O.
insertion point Use to describe the point at which the user types or inserts data.
The vertical blinking bar marks the insertion point.
See also cursor; pointer.
inside Not inside of.
inspector A window that enables users to view the attributes of a document or a selected
item, and often to modify those attributes. You can refer to the inspector or the inspector
window.
You can format most elements of your document using the inspector.
You can open multiple inspector windows to work with different aspects
of your document.
• Capitalization: Capitalize Inspector when it’s a button name or in a menu command.
Click the Inspector button in the toolbar.
Choose Tools> Inspector.
Otherwise, spell with a lowercase i.
Correct: You can add a hyperlink using the inspector.
Incorrect: You can add a hyperlink using the Inspector.
• Panes: When referring to a pane of an inspector, use the [pane name] inspector.
Use the Table inspector to change the row height.
To change the appearance of links, use the Link inspector.
You can also use the [pane name] pane of the inspector (for example, the Table pane of
the inspector) to introduce the concept of multiple panes in an inspector.
• Inspector buttons: Inspectors with multiple panes typically have buttons that enable
users to switch between panes. The name of the button should match the name of the
pane it opens.
Click the Text button to open the Text inspector.
110Apple Style Guide
install You install items on a disk, not onto a disk. Don’t use install as a noun.
installation Don’t use install when you mean installation.
Correct: Click Download to start the installation process.
Incorrect: Click Download to start the install process.
installer, Installer Capitalize when you refer to a specific installer app, but not when you
refer to installers in general.
The iWork Installer app asks you to specify where to install the
software.
You can install some apps by dragging them to the Applications folder;
other apps require an installer.
Instant Hotspot See Personal Hotspot, Instant Hotspot.
instant message Don’t use; use message. See also message.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers See IEEE.
insure See ensure, insure.
Integrated Services Digital Network See ISDN.
Intel Use Intel to refer to Intel Corporation or to its processors and other technologies.
Always use as an adjective except as the company name. Related terms include Intel
processors, Intel-based Mac computers, Intel-based iMac, Mac with Intel processor, and so
on. Don’t use terms such as Intel Mac. See also Intel Core; Intel Xeon.
Intel Core Intel Core refers both to Intel’s Core microarchitecture and to a family of Intel
processors. Intel Core processors used in Mac computers include the Intel Core m3, Intel
Core m5, Intel Core i5, and Intel Core i7. You can also use Intel processors, Intel Core
processors, quad-core Intel Core i5, and so on.
Generally, precede the names with an article. Note the en dash in phrases such as Intel
Core i5–based Mac. Don’t use terms such as Intel Core Mac. See also dual-core (adj.);
Intel Xeon.
Intel Xeon Processors used in Mac computers include the Quad-Core Intel Xeon and
6-Core Intel Xeon. You can shorten the name to Intel Xeon or Xeon. Use an en dash in
phrases such as Intel Xeon–based Mac. Don’t use terms such as Intel Xeon Mac. See also
dual-core (adj.); Intel Core.
interface OK to use in user materials. Don’t use user interface in user materials.
interface card Refers to a type of peripheral card that implements an interface to other
devices.
internal disk drive Use either internal disk drive or built-in disk drive.
111Apple Style Guide
internet, Internet Use lowercase whether you’re referring to the internet (used by the
World Wide Web) or an internet (a generic network, or internetwork). Capitalize only in
proper names, such as Internet Protocol.
Connect your iPhone to the internet by using an available Wi-Fi or
cellular network.
On Mac, a DNS server converts internet names to IP addresses.
An internet is two or more computer networks that are connected using
network routers.
See also intranet; web.
internet addresses An internet address (also called a URL, or Uniform Resource Locator)
specifies an address on the web or other internet sites, such as FTP sites.
• Use plain text for an internet address. (Developer materials use code font.)
• If the address ends a sentence, use a period.
If you need to break an internet address (for example, in print publications), it’s
preferable to:
• Break after a colon (:), a double slash (//), or a slash (/)
www.apple.com/legal/
rfexposure
• Break before any other punctuation mark or symbol
www.energystar
.gov
www.apple.com/batteries/service
-and-recycling
See also URL.
Internet Message Access Protocol See IMAP.
Internet Protocol See IP.
internet service provider See ISP.
interrupt OK to use as a noun in developer materials. See also exit; force quit; quit; stop.
into, in to Use in to when in is part of the verb. Use into to imply motion to the inside of
something.
Correct: Log in to the computer.
Incorrect: Log into the computer.
Correct: Insert the CD into the optical drive.
See also onto, on to; plug in (v.), plug into (v.).
intranet A private network, usually owned by a corporation or an institution (your
company’s intranet). See also internet, Internet.
inverted Don’t use when you mean highlighted.
invite (v.), invitation (n.) Don’t use invite as a noun in place of invitation.
112Apple Style Guide
invoice A document issued by a seller to a buyer listing the goods or services supplied and
stating the sum of money due. If payment hasn’t been made, use invoice and not receipt.
See also receipt.
I/O Abbreviation for input/output. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
iOS The operating system for iPhone and older iPad models. Use without an article.
iOS is the world’s most advanced mobile operating system.
More than a million apps are available for iOS.
iOS 13 introduces new ways to help you protect your privacy.
Some apps have versions that work on multiple platforms. To distinguish between versions
of an app, use [app name]for[platform].
Learn about the new features of Pages for iOS and iPadOS.
You can add tracks to a song in GarageBand for Mac.
If the context makes it clear which version of an app you’re referring to, you can simply use
its name.
See also iOS device; iPadOS.
iOS device Use to refer generically to mobile devices that use iOS. Avoid using mobile
device when referring to iOS devices (mobile device could refer to devices made by other
companies).
You can set up a new iOS device using information from your previous
device.
In some cases, it’s better to use device names instead of iOS device:
• When it’s important to be specific (for example, to clarify which devices a particular app
or accessory is compatible with)
You can install iOS 17 on iPhoneX and later.
• In any context where it’s friendlier—or clearer—to use the device names
Acceptable: Learn how to back up your iOS or iPadOS device.
Preferable: Learn how to back up your iPhone or iPad.
If you list devices by name, list them in the same order throughout a document—for
example, always iPhone, iPad, and Mac. (The order you use might vary depending on the
product.)
Don’t use iOS device to refer to devices that use iPadOS.
See also iOS; iPadOS; iPadOS device.
IP Abbreviation for Internet Protocol. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
113Apple Style Guide
iPad In general references, don’t use the with iPad. It’s OK to use another article or a
possessive adjective. If you need to refer to a specific iPad, it’s OK to use the.
Rotate iPad to landscape orientation.
Find the serial number of your iPad.
Select the iPad you want to use as a second display.
• Chip or generation: iPad models can be identified by the chip (for more recent models)
or the generation. To include the chip in general text, use one of the following formats:
iPad Pro with the M4 chip is available for purchase.
iPad Pro with M4 is available for purchase.
iPad Pro (M4) is available for purchase.
For iPad models that are identified by generation, you can list the generation before or
after the name. Use the numeral when the generation comes after the model name.
The fifth-generation iPad Air was announced in March 2022.
iPad Air (5th generation) features a Liquid Retina display and the Apple M1 chip.
Don’t shorten generation to gen or G—for example, 10th-gen iPad or iPad 10G.
To list multiple generations, use one of the following formats:
iPad (5th generation or later)
iPad (9th and 10th generation)
iPad Pro (2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation)
If a list includes models identified by chip and models identified by generation, use the
following format:
iPad (8th, 9th, and 10th generation) and iPad (A16)
iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) and iPad mini (A17 Pro)
• Display size: You can include the display size before or after the name: 12.9-inch iPad
Pro, iPad Pro (12.9-inch). To include both the display size and the chip (or generation)
in general text, list the display size first:
13-inch iPad Pro with the M4 chip
13-inch iPad Pro with M4
13-inch iPad Air (M3)
12.9-inch iPad Pro (6th generation)
In technical material (such as specifications), list the display size after the name,
followed by the chip or generation in parentheses.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M4)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
• Capacity: The capacity can be listed before or after the name: 512 GB iPad Pro, iPad Pro
512 GB.
See also generation; M-series chips.
114Apple Style Guide
iPadOS The operating system for newer iPad models. Use without an article.
iPadOS includes features that make your iPad more secure than ever.
Learn about developing apps for iPadOS.
iPadOS 13 provides powerful new multitasking features.
Some apps have versions that work on multiple platforms. To distinguish between versions
of an app, use [app name]for[platform].
Learn about the new features of Pages for iOS and iPadOS.
You can add tracks to a song in GarageBand for Mac.
If the context makes it clear which version of an app you’re referring to, you can simply use
its name.
See also iOS; iOS device.
iPadOS device Use to refer generically to mobile devices that use iPadOS. Avoid using
mobile device when referring to iPadOS devices (mobile device could refer to devices
made by other companies).
Use the Finder to share files between your computer and iPadOS
device.
You can stream movies from iPadOS devices to Apple TV.
You can simply use iPad instead of iPadOS device if you know that all the devices you’re
discussing use iPadOS, or if it’s friendlier—or clearer—to use device names.
Acceptable: Learn how to back up your iOS or iPadOS device.
Preferable: Learn how to back up your iPhone or iPad.
If you list devices by name, list them in the same order throughout a document—for
example, always iPad, iPhone, and Mac. (The order you use might vary depending on the
product.)
See also iOS; iOS device; iPadOS.
iPhone In general references, don’t use the with iPhone. It’s OK to use another article or a
possessive adjective. If you need to refer to a specific iPhone, it's OK to use the.
To lock iPhone, press the side button.
You can change the name of your iPhone.
Turn off the iPhone you’re troubleshooting, and then press and hold the
side button to turn the device back on.
The capacity can be listed before or after the name.
iPhone 14 (128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB) includes…
The 1 TB iPhone 15 Pro features the A17 Pro chip.
115Apple Style Guide
Don’t refer to iPhone as phone for short; always use iPhone or the specific model name
(iPhone14, iPhone15 ProMax, and so on).
Correct: Tap Level, and then hold iPhone against an object, such as a
picture frame.
Incorrect: Tap Level, and then hold the phone against an object, such as
a picture frame.
When writing the names of iPhoneX, iPhoneX, and iPhoneX Max, use small caps for
the R and S if your tools let you. If your tools don’t offer small caps, use uppercase R and
S. Don’t use lowercase.
Preferable: iPhone X, iPhoneX, iPhoneX Max
Acceptable (in case of tools limitations): iPhoneXR, iPhoneXS,
iPhoneXS Max
Incorrect: iPhoneXr, iPhoneXs, iPhoneXsMax
The letter X in the model name is pronounced “ten” (for example, “iPhone ten-ess”).
iPod The last iPod model is iPodtouch. (Previous models include iPodclassic, iPodnano,
and iPodshuffle.) Always include iPod in the name; don’t shorten to touch alone.
In general references, don’t use an article with iPodtouch. When referring to the user’s
particular iPodtouch, it’s OK to use your. The capacity and generation can be listed before
or after the name: 128GB iPodtouch, iPodtouch (128 GB), sixth-generation iPodtouch,
iPodtouch (6th generation). Use the numeral when the generation comes after the model
name. Don’t shorten generation to gen or G; for example, seventh-gen iPodtouch or
iPodtouch7G.
The sixth-generation iPod touch features the Apple A8 chip.
If you experience problems with your iPod touch (7th generation)…
Don’t capitalize touch even in title-style headings: iPod touch, not iPod Touch.
IPsec Abbreviation for Internet Protocol Security.
IrDA Abbreviation for Infrared Data Association. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
ISDN Abbreviation for Integrated Services Digital Network. For guidelines about spelling
out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
ISP Abbreviation for internet service provider; not ISP provider. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
italics (n.), italic (adj.) The noun form is plural.
Use italics to emphasize a word or phrase.
Use italic text to emphasize a word or phrase.
116Apple Style Guide
Follow these guidelines for using italics:
• References to document titles: Italicize the entire title.
See the iPhone User Guide.
• Letters as letters, words as words, and phrases as phrases: Italicize.
the i, the o’s
the word restart
the phrase Welcome to iOS10
But: type Q, press Command-S
• Emphasis: Use italics to emphasize a word or phrase, but don’t overdo this use of
italics.
Make sure that the power cable is plugged in and that power is available
at the outlet.
• Placeholder names: Italicize.
Choose File> Add Files to [app name].
• Terms that stand for or define other terms: Use italics, not quotation marks, for terms
after stands for, labeled, named, termed, the term, and so on. If the term is an onscreen
element, however, use plain text for elements whose names are capitalized title style; use
plain text in quotation marks for elements whose names are capitalized sentence style.
INIT stands for initialize.
A folder named New Folder appears.
Select the checkbox labeled “Keep lines together.”
• Text the user types: Don’t use italics to represent what the user actually types; use
quotation marks or code font, depending on your department’s style guidelines.
For example, type “dog” in the search field to find photos of dogs.
In the Title field, type Exchange Rate per $1.
• Variables: In code and other technical notation, italicize artificial terms that are to be
replaced by a value or symbol.
Replace volumeName with a name of up to 12 characters.
See also placeholder names; titles of works; variables.
it’s, its Don’t confuse it’s (the contraction for it is) with its (a possessive pronoun): It’s
important for the department to keep track of its computers. See also contractions;
possessives.
iTunes Gift Card OK to shorten to card or gift card after the first reference.
iTunes Store Not iTunes Music Store or iTunes App Store. Music, movies, and other
features are available in, on, or from the iTunes Store.
Find your favorites in the iTunes Store.
Buy your favorites from the iTunes Store.
After the first reference to the iTunes Store, you can use the full name or simply the store.
117Apple Style Guide
iTunes U An Apple service that schools and other institutions can use to provide free
educational content on Apple devices.
J
jack A small, round, 1-pin socket used in audio and video connections. Don’t use
connector to refer to a jack. See also connector; port; slot; socket.
jargon Avoid jargon whenever possible. Define technical terminology on first occurrence.
JavaScript A scripting language commonly used to add interactive features to webpages.
jiggle Use jiggle, not wiggle, to describe the movement of app icons on a screen (such as
the Home Screen of an iPhone) when they’re being rearranged or deleted.
Joint Photographic Experts Group See JPEG.
JPEG Acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group (pronounced “JAY-peg”). JPEG
usually refers to the image compression standard that this group developed for color and
grayscale images. It’s not necessary to spell out JPEG on first occurrence.
junk mail (n., adj.) Use to refer to unwanted mail that users have somehow opted to
receive (for example, ads from websites where they’ve shopped). In the Mail app and
iCloud Mail, junk mail refers to all unwanted mail, including unsolicited mail from unknown
senders (also known as spam).
It’s OK to shorten junk mail to junk when describing how to filter unwanted mail.
To filter junk mail, choose Mail> Settings, click Junk Mail, and then
select “Enable junk mail filtering.”
You can mark unwanted mail as junk.
See also spam.
justification Don’t use to refer to the alignment of text to the right or left margin; use
alignment. Text that’s aligned on both the right and the left margins is justified. See also
alignment.
K
K Don’t use; use KB.
K–12 Note en dash (Option-Hyphen): K–12 education.
KB (n., adj.) Abbreviation for kilobyte. KB equals 1000 bytes in the context of file size or
storage capacity, and 1024 bytes in the context of computer memory. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. The
preposition of is necessary before the unit that the value quantifies.
800 KB of memory
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
a 687 KB file
118Apple Style Guide
kbit (n., adj.) Abbreviation for kilobit. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. The
preposition of is necessary before the unit that the value quantifies.
256 kbit of memory
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
256 kbit device
kbit/s Standard international abbreviation for kilobits per second. See also Names and unit
symbols for units of measure and abbreviations and acronyms.
KB/s Abbreviation for kilobytes per second. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Kbyte Don’t use; use KB. See also KB (n., adj.).
Kerberos A network authentication protocol.
keyboard equivalent Don’t use; use keyboard shortcut.
keyboard focus The location where your actions take effect when you use the keyboard.
When you use VoiceOver, the keyboard focus can be different from where the VoiceOver
cursor is focused.
keyboard icon Not script symbol or script icon. Refers to the small icon associated with
each keyboard layout. These icons are used in the Input menu and the Text Input section of
Keyboard settings.
keyboard shortcut Use instead of keyboard equivalent. See also key, keys.
keychain, Keychain Access A keychain stores certificates and passwords for servers,
internet resources, and apps. Users create keychains by using the Keychain Access app.
key-down (adj.) Note hyphenation.
key, keys You press a key on a keyboard or tap a key on a touchscreen; you type a
character, word, or phrase.
In general, don’t use articles and the word key in references to keys. Ease the user into this
construction by using the and key the first time you mention a keystroke.
First occurrence: Press the Control key.
Thereafter: Press Control.
• Modifier keys: Capitalize the names of modifier keys.
Control key, Option key, Shift key, Command key, Esc key
• Punctuation keys and nonalphanumeric keys: When a punctuation key or
nonalphanumeric key is used in a combination keystroke, or as a modifier for the word
key, capitalize the key name. (However, use lowercase for punctuation marks and
nonalphanumeric symbols in other contexts.)
Option-Shift-Hyphen
Press the Hyphen key.
Type a hyphen.
119Apple Style Guide
Placing the punctuation mark or symbol in parentheses after the spelled-out key name
is optional, but be consistent within a document.
Shift-Command-Tilde (~)
• Keyboard shortcuts using combination keystrokes: In combination keystrokes, use
hyphens to signify that the user should press and hold the first key or keys while
pressing the last key. Don’t use a hyphen if each key should be pressed and released
separately. Be sure to explain this convention on first use.
Control-Shift-N
Esc N
Capitalize but don’t italicize or use code font for letters used as key names.
Command-C
Command-X
If there’s more than one modifier key, use this order: Fn (function), Control, Option,
Shift, Command. When a keyboard shortcut includes a mouse or trackpad action, use
lowercase for the mouse or trackpad action.
Option-click
Option-swipe with three fingers
• Two-word key names: When referring to more than one key, use the full name of each
key.
Correct: the Right Arrow or Left Arrow key
Incorrect: the Right or Left Arrow key
• Keys labeled with two characters: When a key with two characters is used in a keyboard
shortcut, identify the key by the lower of the two characters, unless the Shift key is part
of the shortcut. If the Shift key is part of the keyboard shortcut, identify the key by the
upper of the two characters.
Correct: For more information, press Shift-Command-Question Mark.
Incorrect: For more information, press Shift-Command-Slash.
When the Shift key and a key with two characters are in a combination keystroke, always
show the Shift key as part of the keyboard shortcut (don’t show only the upper of the
two characters and assume that the user will know to press the Shift key).
Correct: To increase the Loupe diameter, press Option-Shift-Plus Sign.
Incorrect: To increase the Loupe diameter, press Option-Plus Sign.
If one of the characters on the key provides a mnemonic for the action of the command,
you can identify the key by that character.
To remove keyword presets 1 through 8, press Option-Shift-1, Option-
Shift-2, and so on.
120Apple Style Guide
• Key graphics: With graphic representations of combination keystrokes (in tables, for
example), use the plus sign (+) instead of a hyphen between keys.
• Escape and Function: Spell out the key names Escape and Function (the Fn key on
laptop computers and wireless keyboards) when you introduce them. In subsequent
references, it’s OK to abbreviate them as Esc and Fn.
First occurrence: Press the Esc (Escape) key.
Thereafter: Press Esc.
Don’t abbreviate any other key names, except when space is very tight (in table
headings, for example).
See also specific key names.
keypad Use keypad or numeric keypad, not numeric keyboard.
keypress One word.
keystroke One word.
key-up (adj.) Note hyphenation.
keyword Refers to a special word that identifies a particular type of statement or
command, such as int or while. Follow the capitalization style of the programming language
involved.
The term keyword also refers to assigned identifiers in apps such as Photos.
Use keywords to make your photo albums easy to search.
kHz (n., adj.) Abbreviation for kilohertz. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation.
at a rate of 44.1 kHz
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
a 44.1 kHz rate
kill Don’t use to refer to stopping an app or process. Use an alternative that conveys the
correct meaning in context, such as force quit, force exit, terminate, end, stop, halt, or
cancel.
Correct: Cancel all background tasks.
Incorrect: Kill all background tasks.
If the term kill is used in code you’re documenting and the code can’t be changed, show
a code sample to make it clear what users need to enter, but use alternative terms in the
documentation.
The kSecCodeStatusKill flag indicates that the code should be
terminated if it is ever invalidated.
kilobit See kbit (n., adj.).
121Apple Style Guide
kilobits per second See kbit/s.
kilobyte See KB (n., adj.).
kilobytes per second See KB/s.
kilohertz See kHz (n., adj.).
Korea Don’t use. Specify South Korea or North Korea.
L
L2 cache, L3 cache See level 2 cache, level 3 cache.
label See figure label. See also button; capitalization.
labeled, labeling Not labelled, labelling.
LAN Acronym for local area network. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
laptop A descriptive term for computers that are designed to be portable, such as
MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Don’t use notebook computer or notebook.
In most cases, you can use just laptop; use laptop computer if needed for clarity.
Schedule your Mac laptop to shut down.
Find out how to clean your laptop screen.
Place your laptop computer on a flat surface.
Connect a display to a Mac desktop or laptop computer.
When you refer to a specific model (such as MacBook Air or MacBook Pro), use the model
name (not Mac laptop).
See also desktop computer; portable computer.
later See earlier, later.
latest Don’t use to refer to a specific software update. Instead, use only the version
number (or a date, in technical support documents), or use or later to indicate a range of
updates. It’s OK to use latest if you’re generally instructing users to keep their software up
to date.
Correct: To use this feature, you must have iPadOS 13.2 or later
installed.
Correct: For the best results, make sure you’re using the latest version
of iPadOS.
See also earlier, later; version number.
launch Avoid in user materials when you mean to open an app. OK to use in developer
materials.
122Apple Style Guide
Launchpad Don’t precede Launchpad with the or your.
LCD Abbreviation for liquid crystal display. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
LCI Abbreviation for liquid contact indicator. Spell out on first occurrence. In subsequent
references, it’s OK to say LCI or the indicator.
LED Don’t use in user materials unless you have a specific reason (to distinguish from
LCD, for example). Use light or indicator light.
left arrow Use to refer to a button that looks like a left arrow and lets users navigate
horizontally through content, such as a category of TV shows in the Apple TV app.
Don’t call it the left arrow button or the left-pointing arrow.
Click the left arrow to view more episodes.
Don’t use when you mean Back button.
See also Back button; Left Arrow key.
Left Arrow key When you refer to arrow keys generically, use lowercase, but capitalize
and use the complete name when you refer to one or more arrow keys by name. See also
arrow keys.
left-hand Avoid except in reference to left-hand (verso) pages; use just left whenever
possible.
leftmost No hyphen.
left side Not left-hand side.
less, fewer Use less for quantity or bulk; use fewer for countable items.
The fewer devices in your network system, the less cable you need.
less-than sign Use less-than sign, not less-than symbol, to describe the < symbol. You
can also use left angle bracket if appropriate in the context. See also angle brackets.
let Don’t overuse the phrase lets you in instructions; try to restructure the sentence to
focus on what the user does.
Avoid: The Up Next button lets you see which songs will play next.
Preferable: Click the Up Next button to see which songs will play next.
It’s OK to use lets you in content that focuses on describing features and their capabilities.
Family Sharing lets you share Apple purchases and subscriptions with
family.
See also allow; disable (v.), disabled (adj.); enable (v.), enabled (adj.).
123Apple Style Guide
letterboxing (n.), letterbox (v., adj.), letterboxed (adj.) Refers to the black bars placed
above and below widescreen video to preserve the wide aspect ratio when the video is
presented in a format with a narrower aspect ratio.
Letterboxing allows the full 16:9 video image to be displayed on a
standard 4:3 display.
You can letterbox widescreen footage to display it on a standard 4:3
display.
You can crop the video image to remove the letterbox area (the black
bars above and below the widescreen image).
See also aspect ratio; pillarboxing (n.), pillarbox (v., adj.), pillarboxed (adj.).
letters as letters Italicize a letter when it’s used as a letter.
• Plural: Avoid using the plural; if you must, use an apostrophe and an s to form the plural,
but don’t italicize the apostrophe or the s.
o’s, p’s, s’s
• Fonts: When you discuss fonts and character formation, using italics for letters as
letters may be misleading—for example, when you discuss a particular character in plain
style. In such cases, use quotation marks.
The letter “å” can be converted to “a.”
• Key names: Don’t italicize a letter when you use it as the name of a key.
Press Command-Q.
See also italics (n.), italic (adj.); words as words.
level 2 cache, level 3 cache Can be abbreviated as L2 cache or L3 cache. Don’t use
secondary cache or second-level cache when you mean L2 cache.
library Use lowercase in general references: your music library, the photo library.
Capitalize the names of interface elements: click Library.
lid Use this, not clamshell, to refer to the lid of a laptop computer or device case (such as
an AirPods case).
LiDAR Note capitalization.
lifespan One word (exception to Merriam-Webster).
Light Seal A component of AppleVisionPro. Note capitalization.
Light Seal Cushion A component of AppleVisionPro. Note capitalization.
like (suffix) Close up words ending with like unless the word is a proper name or a
compound term, or the resulting word is difficult to read.
businesslike, Ethernet-like, typewriter-like
124Apple Style Guide
like, love Users can like or love an item. Items can have likes, but not loves; instead, refer
to loved items as items you’ve loved or loved items. Users can dislike a liked or loved item.
Don't capitalize like or love unless you’re referring to a button in the user interface (for
example, the Loved button).
Telling AppleMusic what you love and dislike improves future
recommendations.
In News, when you like a topic or channel, related stories appear more
often in For You.
You can create a Smart Playlist of your loved songs and albums.
To avoid ambiguity, you can also say mark an item as liked, an item is marked as loved, or
similar.
The album subscriber marked the photo of the Grand Canyon as liked.
limited warranty Note lowercase.
line breaks Don’t break a line between Chapter or Appendix and its number or letter;
between Figure or Table and its number; between slot or port and its number; or between a
product name and its number. Don’t break a line within an email address or a URL.
line feed (n.), line-feed (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
link (n.) A user clicks a link to go to another page or to perform an action. Avoid using
follow a link; use click a link instead.
Correct: Click a link on the homepage to go to another page.
Incorrect: Follow the link to the page of your choice.
link (v.) OK to use when you describe the act of creating a link on a webpage, but don’t
use link to describe connecting to a webpage.
Correct: When creating a webpage, be sure to link to other interesting
webpages.
Incorrect: Click the map to link to other pages on the site.
liquid contact indicator See LCI.
lists (bulleted) Use a bulleted list when you want to stress the parallelism of a number
of options, elements, rules, or instructions that need not be presented or performed in a
particular order.
• Introductory punctuation: Precede all lists with colons, whether the sentence before the
colon is a complete thought or a partial thought (exception to The Chicago Manual of
Style). See also colons.
• Capitalization: All list items should start with a capital letter unless the word is a product
name that begins with a lowercase letter or, in developer materials, is a computer literal
that begins with a lowercase letter.
• Punctuation within a list: List items that are fragments or that complete the thought
started by the main clause should not end with a period; list items that are complete
sentences should end with a period.
125Apple Style Guide
• Parallelism: Within a single list, all bulleted items should be parallel.
• A regular sentence broken into a list: This type of list emphasizes the parts of a series.
The syntax of the sentence is unbroken.
• A simple list: The main clause is an independent clause and each bulleted item is a
sentence fragment.
• A complex list: The main clause is an independent clause and each bulleted item is a
complete sentence.
lists (numbered) Use a numbered list when you want to stress the sequential nature of
steps, rules, or instructions. In numbered task lists (steps), each item should be a complete
sentence. Use sentence-style capitalization for each item and end each item with closing
punctuation.
Reduce an image’s file size:
1. Choose Tools > Adjust Size.
2. Select “Resample image.”
3. Enter a smaller value in the Resolution field.
list view A way to display items in a list, with one or more columns of data—for example,
the list view in Finder windows.
126Apple Style Guide
List View button The button second from the left in the View control in Finder windows.
lithium-ion (adj.) It’s OK to abbreviate as Li-ion if space is limited. See also batteries.
Live Activities Capitalize the name of the feature. You can use Live Activity or just activity
to refer to individual activities.
You can view Live Activities in the Dynamic Island on your iPhone.
A Live Activity can be active for up to 8 hours.
To switch between activities, swipe left or right.
live link Don’t use to refer to hypertext links on webpages; use hypertext link or just link.
Live Photos The feature name. You can also use Live Photos or Live Photo to refer to the
photos themselves.
Live Photos is turned on by default.
With some models of iPhone, you can take Live Photos.
You can use a Live Photo as the wallpaper for your Lock Screen.
You play or view a Live Photo. Avoid referring to any part of a Live Photo as video. Instead,
you can use wording such as the moments before and after the photo.
Avoid: If you set a Live Photo as your watch face, the video plays when
you raise your wrist.
Preferable: If you set a Live Photo as your watch face, it plays when you
raise your wrist.
Avoid: A Live Photo captures a still image, along with a few moments of
video before and after it was taken.
Preferable: A Live Photo captures a still image, along with the moments
just before and after it was taken.
In instances where a Live Photo might not play, avoid describing the Live Photo as playable
or not playable; instead, use alternatives such as you see only the still image.
If you drag a Live Photo to a conversation in Messages, only the still
photo appears.
livestream (n., v.), livestreaming (n.) Use to refer to media content that’s streamed in
real time.
Watch the livestream of this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference,
or stream it on demand on Apple Podcasts.
Apple livestreams the Worldwide Developers Conference each year.
Livestreaming will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific daylight time.
127Apple Style Guide
If the context makes it clear you’re discussing content that’s streamed in real time, you can
just use stream.
You can stream lectures to your students and answer their questions in
real time.
When discussing HTTP Live Streaming, the Apple technology for streaming live content,
always capitalize Live Streaming and don’t hyphenate (even if a noun immediately follows).
Get HTTP Live Streaming tools from Apple.
Discuss HTTP Live Streaming with Apple engineers and other
developers.
See also stream (n., v.), streaming (n., adj.).
Live Text Use only as a feature name. Don’t use to refer to the text users interact with.
Correct: You can use Live Text to copy and share text in a photo.
Incorrect: You can copy and share Live Text in a photo.
lo-bit Don’t use; use low bit (n.), low-order bit (n.), or low-bit (adj.).
local area network See LAN.
localizable Don’t use.
Correct: An app that follows the human interface guidelines should be
easy to localize.
Incorrect: An app that follows the human interface guidelines should be
easily localizable.
localization (n., adj.) Many Apple publications and user materials written in English go
through the localization process, which involves revision and translation for non-English-
speaking users.
• Idiomatic language: To make the localization process easier, avoid idiomatic phrases
such as these:
nitty-gritty details
start from scratch
piggy-backing
• Examples and graphics: Avoid examples and graphics that show events or activities
specific to a particular nation or culture.
• Conciseness: Remember that text length may expand after translation, so keep
paragraphs short and tight.
See also Intro; Writing inclusively.
localize (v.) Takes the preposition for, not to.
Correct: Whether you localize your app for the French language or for
French Canada, make sure you test its interface.
Incorrect: Whether you localize your app to the French language or to
French Canada, make sure you test its interface.
128Apple Style Guide
Location Services The feature name. Singular.
Correct: Make sure Location Services is turned on.
Incorrect: Make sure Location Services are turned on.
lock Users lock files, apps, or devices; they write-protect their disks. Disks are copy-
protected by the manufacturer.
Lock Screen Note capitalization.
logical operators Don’t use as verbs.
Correct: Using OR to combine x and y produces the result TRUE if either
one is true or if both are true.
Incorrect: ORing x and y produces the result TRUE if either one is true
or if both are true.
Correct: The directive uses the logical operator AND to compare the
accumulator contents with the contents of memory specified by the
operand.
Incorrect: The directive logically ANDs the accumulator contents with
the contents of memory specified by the operand.
logic board Not motherboard, mother board, main board, or main circuit board. You can
refer to a board as the main logic board if there’s a secondary logic board on the device;
otherwise, use just logic board.
Login Items Capitalize when referring to Login Items settings (in macOS 13 and later)
or Login Items preferences (in macOS 12 and earlier); use lowercase when referring
generically to apps or files that open automatically when the user logs in. In user materials,
it’s preferable to use descriptive language (for example, items that open automatically).
login (n., adj.), log in (v.) Use to refer to the procedure for starting use of a Mac system
account. Use log in to, not log into.
Correct: You must log in as an administrator.
Correct: If you turn on automatic login for yourself, your account opens
when the computer starts up.
Incorrect: You must log into the computer.
Users log in to a file server (not log on to); users log out of a file server (not log off, log off
of, or log out from).
Correct: You must log out of the server.
Incorrect: You must log out from the server.
Incorrect: You must log off the server.
Use login window to refer to the window that appears when a new user logs in to macOS.
See also sign-in (n., adj.), sign in (v.).
129Apple Style Guide
log on, log off Don’t use; use log in and log out. See also login (n., adj.), log in (v.).
long press (n.), long-press (adj.) In developer materials, you can use long press
when discussing the gesture recognizer that detects when a user touches and holds an
onscreen item.
To detect a long press, use a long-press gesture recognizer
(UILongPressGestureRecognizer).
Don’t use long press in user materials. Instead, use press and hold to refer to the act of
pressing a mechanical button until an action or result occurs; use touch and hold to refer to
the act of touching a touchscreen and leaving the finger motionless until an action or result
occurs.
See also press and hold; touch and hold.
look Use to refer to looking at buttons and elements in visionOS to interact with them.
Don’t use gaze.
App icons subtly come to life when you look at them.
In visionOS, looking at an element is an integral part of interacting with it, so you don’t
need to include look with every instruction. However, when you’re first explaining how to do
something on AppleVisionPro, you can include look to help describe the action.
First reference: To open an app, look at the app and tap your fingers
together.
Subsequent references: Tap an app to open it.
look and feel (n.) No hyphens.
Look Around The Maps feature that lets users get a street-level view of a location.
lookup (n., adj.), look up (v.) One word except as a verb.
lo-res Don’t use; use low resolution (n.) or low-resolution (adj.). See also low resolution
(n.), low-resolution (adj.).
love See like, love.
low bit (n.), low-bit (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective. Not lo bit or lo-bit. Low bit is an
acceptable short form of the noun low-order bit.
lowercase (n., adj.) When you use lowercase in conjunction with uppercase as a noun (or
to modify a noun), use uppercase and lowercase (both words spelled out, in that order).
low-order bit (n.) Not lo bit or lo-bit. Low bit is an acceptable short form.
Low Power Mode Note capitalization. See also Power Reserve mode.
low resolution (n.), low-resolution (adj.) Not lo-res. The short form low-res (adj.) is OK
when space constraints don’t allow use of the full phrase (such as in column headings in
tables).
low vision See blind, low vision.
130Apple Style Guide
M
M1 chip See M-series chips.
M2 chip See M-series chips.
M3 chip See M-series chips.
Mac Use Mac to refer to Mac computers and related products (Mac software, Mac apps).
• Articles: In general references, don’t use the with Mac or the names of specific Mac
models.
Get to know Mac.
Mac mini delivers unprecedented power in a small package.
Mac Pro features seven expansion slots.
It’s OK to use another article or a possessive adjective.
This feature requires a Mac with macOS 14 or later.
Set up your Mac Studio.
If you need to refer to a specific Mac, it’s OK to use the.
Shut down the Mac you want to restore.
Slide the Mac Pro you’re troubleshooting out of the rack.
• Plurals and possessives: Because Mac and the names of specific Mac models are
trademarks, don’t use them in the plural or possessive form.
Correct: Mac computers, Mac Pro models, your Mac computer’s screen
Incorrect: Macs, Mac Pros, your Mac’s screen
• Generic references: Don’t refer to a Mac computer as a machine, CPU, or PC;
acceptable alternatives are computer or personal computer.
The following examples show ways to list Mac computers together with other types of
products:
your Mac, iPhone, or iPad; a macOS, iOS, or iPadOS device; your Mac or
mobile device; your Mac or PC; Mac computers and PCs
See also device; trademarks (usage).
Macao Use this spelling, not Macau.
Mac App Store Apps for the Mac are available in, on, or from the Mac App Store. Precede
the name with an article in text. Don’t abbreviate as MAS.
Find the item you want on the Mac App Store.
To download macOS Sonoma from the Mac App Store, open the App
Store app on your computer.
After the first reference to the Mac App Store, you can use the full name or simply the
store. To prevent confusion, avoid using the store if you’re discussing the App Store for
different platforms (for example, the Mac App Store and the App Store for iPhone).
See also App Store.
131Apple Style Guide
MacBook See Mac.
Mac Catalyst A feature of Xcode that developers can use to bring iPad apps to Mac as
native Mac apps. Don’t use Catalyst alone. Developers bring apps to Mac, not to macOS.
Bring your iPad app to Mac with Mac Catalyst.
Don’t use Mac Catalyst as an adjective. For example, don’t describe an app as a Mac
Catalyst app; say a Mac app created using Mac Catalyst, or similar. Apps don’t run in Mac
Catalyst; apps are built with Mac Catalyst.
Correct: Mac apps built with Mac Catalyst can use AppKit APIs marked
as available.
Incorrect: Mac apps running in Mac Catalyst can use AppKit APIs
marked as available.
machine Don’t use when you mean computer.
machine language (n.), machine-language (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
Macintosh See Mac.
Mac mini See Mac.
Mac operating systems In general, use macOS to refer to the Mac operating system.
To reinstall macOS, you must be connected to the internet.
macOS includes apps you’ll use every day.
Don’t use Mac OS to refer generically to the operating system.
Correct: To determine which version of the Mac operating system you
have…
Incorrect: To determine which version of the Mac OS you have…
Features are in macOS, not on macOS.
Correct: In macOS, you can…
Incorrect: On macOS, you can…
Mac operating systems have a version name and a version number. If you include both the
name and the number, place the name first. Don’t place the name in quotation marks, and
don’t include the word version or the letter v.
To refer to specific versions of the Mac operating system, follow these guidelines,
depending on the version number:
• 10.12 or later: Use macOS. To refer to a specific version of macOS, you can use its
name, its version number, or both. Always include macOS.
macOS Sierra
macOS 10.12
macOS Sierra 10.12
132Apple Style Guide
• 10.8 through 10.11: Use OSX. To refer to a specific version of OSX, you can use its
name, its version number, or both. Always include OSX.
OS X El Capitan
OSX10.11
OS X El Capitan 10.11
• 10.0 through 10.7: Use MacOSX. Include the version number only.
Correct: Mac OS X 10.7
Incorrect: Mac OS X Lion 10.7
When referring to a range of OS versions that includes both macOS and earlier versions,
use the name (or version number) of the earliest version followed by or later.
Correct: To use Handoff, you must have OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later
installed.
Incorrect: To use Handoff, you must have macOS Yosemite 10.10 or later
installed. [Version 10.10 was called OS X, not macOS.]
Exception: If a range of versions includes both macOS and earlier versions, developer
publications refer to all included versions as macOS.
macOS See Mac operating systems.
MacOS See Mac operating systems.
MacOS Extended format A file system used to format a disk for use with macOS. It’s OK
to define the format parenthetically as HFS Plus on first occurrence, but don’t use HFS+.
See also HFS Plus.
MacOS Extended (Journaled) format A file system used to format a disk for use
with macOS. It’s OK to define the format parenthetically as Journaled HFS Plus on first
occurrence, but don’t use HFS+ (Journaled). See also HFS Plus (Journaled).
macOS Server Use to describe Apple’s server software beginning with macOS 10.12. Use
only to refer to the software; don’t use to refer to a computer with macOS Server installed.
Call the computer the server or the server with macOS Server installed.
Correct: You can give users access to the server.
Incorrect: Create a password to make your macOS Server more secure.
When discussing administrative tasks users can do in the Server app, use the Server app.
When discussing the features or behavior of the server software as a whole, refer to it as
macOS Server.
macOS Server sends alerts about important server events.
Use the Server app to change which alerts you receive.
133Apple Style Guide
When referring to software versions, don’t include the word version or the letter v. In
developer materials, don’t use version names such as Snow Leopard; use version numbers
only. To refer to specific versions of the software, follow these guidelines:
• macOS Server (for macOS 10.12 or later): Each version is a separate add-on that may
work with multiple versions of macOS, so don’t include an operating system name (for
example, Sierra) when referring to macOS Server; include only a version number.
macOS Server 5.2
• OSX Server (for OSX 10.8 through 10.11): Each version is a separate add-on that may
work with multiple versions of OS X, so don’t include an operating system name (for
example, Mavericks) when referring to OSX Server; include only a version number.
OSX Server 5.1
• MacOSX Server (MacOSX 10.7 or earlier): You can use the operating system
name and the version number on first occurrence. Thereafter, it’s OK to use [version
name]Server. Don’t place the name in quotation marks.
MacOSX Lion Server 10.7
Lion Server
MacOSX See Mac operating systems.
MacOSX Server See macOS Server.
Mac Pro See Mac.
Mac Studio See Mac.
Mac Virtual Display The virtual macOS display in AppleVisionPro. Don’t precede with the.
With Mac Virtual Display, you can view your Mac screen on Apple Vision
Pro.
Made for iPhone, iPod, and iPad See MFi.
Mail Capitalize when referring to the app name: You can use Mail to send and receive
email. See also iCloud.
mailbox One word.
mailbox list The list of mailboxes in the Mail app.
main logic board See logic board.
main memory Not central memory.
male Don’t use to describe a type of connector. Use plug or connector; if you use
connector, describe the connector by its shape, icon, or other identifying feature.
Correct: Insert the plug into the socket to ensure a reliable connection.
Incorrect: Insert the male endpoint into the female endpoint to ensure a
reliable connection.
See also connector; female; mate.
134Apple Style Guide
man Don’t use man (or compound words that include man) to refer to people in general.
staff, workforce (not manpower)
work hours, people hours (not man hours)
artistry, craft (not craftsmanship)
unstaffed (not unmanned)
Managed Apple Account An account that a business or educational institution creates and
manages to allow users to access Apple services. This account was formerly known as a
Managed Apple ID.
Correct: Some features and settings aren’t available to Managed Apple
Accounts.
Incorrect: Some features and settings aren’t available to accounts with
Managed Apple IDs.
See also Apple Account.
Managed Apple ID Don’t use; use Managed Apple Account. See also Managed Apple
Account.
man-in-the-middle attack Don’t use. Depending on the context, use intermediary attack
or machine-in-the-middle attack.
manual Use manual to refer generically to print or PDF documentation that comes with a
computer or another product. You can also use user manual, user’s manual, or user guide,
depending on the manual title.
See the manual that came with your camcorder.
See your user guide for instructions.
• Electronic delivery: If a manual is delivered electronically (for example, as a PDF file
available from www.apple.com/support), don’t call the manual an electronic manual;
simply describe it for the user.
The manual is available as a PDF file at www.apple.com/support.
• Cross-references: To refer to documentation that may be either printed or electronic,
use documentation.
See the documentation that came with your computer.
See also document titles; user guide, user manual.
master The term master can have oppressive associations, even when used in a
technological context. For this reason, avoid using master when referring to the following:
• The default branch of a source repository. Instead, use main branch.
• A system, device, or setting that controls another or that others are subordinate to.
Instead, use alternatives such as primary, main, global, manager, or host.
• An object or file that serves as a source or basis for others. Instead, use alternatives
such as source, original, reference, or main.
If none of these alternatives work, you might be able to replace master with another
term that makes sense in a particular context. For example, you could call objects in the
background of a document background objects instead of master objects.
See also master branch; master-detail (adj.); master/slave.
135Apple Style Guide
master branch Don’t use to refer to the default branch of a source repository; use main
branch.
master-detail (adj.) Don’t use; use list-detail or navigation-detail.
In a navigation-detail interface, the navigation interface displays a
collection of objects, and the detail interface shows an editor for the
selected object.
master/slave Don’t use to describe the relationship between two devices or processes.
Instead, use an alternative that’s appropriate to the context, such as primary/secondary,
primary/replica, main/secondary, host/client, or active/standby.
Correct: Anything written on the primary device is given to the
secondary device as input.
Incorrect: Anything written on the master device is given to the slave
device as input.
Correct: In a multipeer session, there is no explicit separation of devices
into host and client roles.
Incorrect: In a multipeer session, there is no explicit separation of
devices into master and slave roles.
Don’t use alternatives that retain the term master (such as master/helper) or use the term
worker (such as master/worker).
If the terms master and slave are used in code you’re documenting and the code can’t be
changed, show a code sample to make it clear what users need to enter, but use alternative
terms in the documentation.
The primary view controller (MasterViewController) shows the
available views and controls.
mate Don’t use to refer to connecting hardware. Use connect.
Correct: Securely connect the cable connectors.
Incorrect: Securely mate the cable connectors.
See also connect.
maximize Use to refer to making a window as big as possible without going full screen.
Don’t use to refer to clicking a window that’s been minimized into the Dock; use make
active.
Correct: To maximize a window, Option-click the green button.
Incorrect: To maximize a window, click its icon in the Dock.
Correct: To make a minimized window active, click its icon in the Dock.
See also minimize (v.), minimized (adj.).
136Apple Style Guide
maximize button The rightmost (green) button of the three window controls at the left of the
title bar. Users click this button to go full screen, or Option-click it to maximize the window.
See also maximize.
may, can See can, might, may.
MB (n., adj.) Abbreviation for megabyte. MB equals 1000
2
bytes in the context of file size
or storage capacity, and 1024
2
bytes in the context of computer memory. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. The
preposition of is necessary before the unit that the value quantifies.
20 MB of memory
500 MB of storage capacity
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
a 3 MB L2 cache
a 4 MB file
Mbit (n., adj.) Abbreviation for megabit. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. The
preposition of is necessary before the unit that the value quantifies.
10 Mbit of memory
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
10 Mbit memory
Mbit/s Standard international abbreviation for megabits per second. See also Names and
unit symbols for units of measure and abbreviations and acronyms.
MB/s Abbreviation for megabytes per second. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
measurement See Intro.
media, medium When you describe a method of storing or delivering information, use the
singular medium or the plural media.
The characteristics of the video storage medium determine playback
and recording capabilities. [singular]
The guide is presented in both print and electronic media. [plural]
When you discuss video, audio, and still-image content, however, you can use media as a
singular term to describe a collection of content (for example, a set of video clips).
Your imported media appears as clips in one or more events.
137Apple Style Guide
Media Eject key Note capitalization.
Medical ID Use with a or your.
In an emergency, you can check someone’s iPhone for a Medical ID.
You can quickly set up your Medical ID in the Health app.
mega (prefix) Close up words beginning with mega.
megabit, megabyte, megahertz, megapixel, megawatt, megawide
megabit See Mbit (n., adj.).
megabits per second See Mbit/s.
megabyte See MB (n., adj.).
megabytes per second See MB/s.
megahertz See MHz (n., adj.).
Memoji Personalized Animoji that users can create to represent themselves in some apps.
Use Memoji for both singular and plural.
Add features to a Memoji to bring your character to life.
Create more Memoji to match different moods.
See also Animoji; emoji.
Memories Capitalize when referring to the feature in Photos. Use lowercase when referring
to the memories that Photos creates and when referring to memory movies.
Use Memories to rediscover favorite photos in your library.
Photos scans your library to create a collection of memories.
Create a custom memory movie right in Photos.
memory A general term for the part of a computer that holds data and instructions for use
by processors. Memory can refer to random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory
(ROM), virtual memory, swap files, and portable storage devices (such as flash drives and
memory sticks), among others.
Use Activity Monitor to see the amount of system memory being used
on your Mac.
macOS automatically allocates memory and adjusts its contents as
needed.
Don’t use memory to refer to storage capacity; use a term such as storage space instead.
See also storage.
memory address, memory location OK to use just address or location for brevity. Don’t
use commas in addresses, even in numbers of five digits or more.
menu bar The bar at the top of the Mac screen. The menu bar contains menus for the
active app (File menu, Edit menu, and so on) and menus for system status icons (icons on
the right, also called menu bar icons, menu bar status icons, or menu bar items). If you
need to refer to the menu type, use pull-down menu, not pop-up menu.
138Apple Style Guide
Menu button A physical button on the Siri Remote (called the AppleTV Remote in
countries or regions where Siri isn’t available for use with AppleTV) and the Apple Remote.
See also Apple Remote; AppleTV Remote; Siri Remote.
menu names Note capitalization: Edit menu, File menu, and so on.
menus Anything that can be chosen in a menu is a menu item; some menu items are also
menu commands (or simply commands). A menu item is in a menu, not on or under a menu;
a menu contains items.
In user materials, you can use item or option to refer to menu items that aren’t commands,
such as names of fonts in a pop-up menu. However, when possible, use a more specific
term (for example, if a menu contains a choice of colors, say choose a color).
To specify how numbers in a spreadsheet are rounded, click the
Accuracy pop-up menu, and then choose an option.
To change the size of icon text, click the “Text size” pop-up menu, and
then choose a size.
• Pull-down menus: A pull-down menu is a menu in the menu bar. When you give
instructions for choosing an item from a pull-down menu, use the style shown here.
Choose [menu] > [item] > [submenu item].
Choose Edit > Find > Find Next.
Choose File > Save As.
Don’t use an angle bracket when you’re simply identifying which menu contains the
item.
Correct: the Page Setup command in the File menu
Incorrect: the File > Page Setup command
Don’t refer to pull-down menus as pop-up menus or drop-down menus. In general, refer
to them as menus; however, if you need to distinguish them from other types of menus,
it’s OK to call them pull-down menus.
• Pop-up menus: A pop-up menu is a menu in a dialog or window, labeled with up and
down arrows (or just a down arrow). For pop-up menus, use the style Click the X pop-
up menu, and then choose Y.
Click the Connection Speed pop-up menu, and then choose Intranet
LAN.
Click the Format pop-up menu, and then choose a format.
If the pop-up menu doesn’t have a name, simply call it the pop-up menu.
Click the pop-up menu, and then choose Numeric.
• Shortcut menus: A shortcut menu is a menu that appears when a user presses the
Control key and clicks an item on the screen. For shortcut menus, use the style shown
here.
Control-click the image, and then choose Copy Image from the shortcut
menu.
139Apple Style Guide
If the shortcut menu has submenus, you can use the style shown above, or you can use
the angle bracket style.
Control-click the images, choose Align Objects from the shortcut menu,
and then choose Left from the submenu.
Control-click the images, and then choose Align Objects > Left from the
shortcut menu.
In user materials, don’t refer to a shortcut menu as a contextual menu. However, you
can refer to the menu parenthetically as a contextual menu on first reference for users
who may be more familiar with that term.
A shortcut menu (also called a contextual menu) appears.
• Checkmarks in menus: For menu items that are turned on or off by showing or hiding a
checkmark, use the following language:
To show the library, choose Window> Library so that a checkmark
appears next to Library.
To hide the library, choose Window> Library so that the checkmark
disappears.
See also choose; command names; submenus.
message An electronic communication containing information sent by a computer or
mobile device. If the context isn’t clear, you can add an adjective to indicate the type of
message (audio message, email message, MMS message, SMS message, text message,
video message).
Send a message to your friend.
The Messages app automatically chooses the type of group message to
send.
Avoid using message as a verb. Instead, use send a message to.
Correct: Send a message to your family.
Incorrect: Message your family.
See also chat (n., v., adj.); text message.
message list The list of messages in the viewer window in Mail.
metadata One word.
MFi Short for Made for iPhone, iPod, and iPad. A licensing program for manufacturers of
accessories that work with Apple devices.
Learn how to pair your MFi hearing device with your iPad.
MHz (n., adj.) Abbreviation for megahertz. In both the noun and adjective form, use a
space between the numeral and the abbreviation (don’t hyphenate the adjective form).
at a rate of 800 MHz
an 800 MHz processor
See also abbreviations and acronyms.
140Apple Style Guide
mic (n.) OK to use as the short form of microphone. Don’t use as a verb; use mike.
After you connect the microphone to the speaker, you might have to
adjust the mic.
See also mike, miked, miking (v., adj.).
mice Try to avoid, but if you must use the plural of mouse, it’s OK to use mice or mouse
devices. See also mouse.
microarchitecture One word.
micro-DVI A video output port for connecting external displays and TVs.
microphone OK to use mic for short. See also mike, miked, miking (v., adj.).
Microsoft Windows OK to use Windows. Computers that use Microsoft Windows can be
called Windows-based computers, Windows computers, Windows-based PCs, or Windows
PCs. See also PC.
MIDI Acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. For guidelines about spelling out
acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
mike, miked, miking (v., adj.) Don’t use mike as a noun; use microphone or mic.
You can change the volume of each miked instrument.
There are three commonly used stereo miking variants used in
recording.
See also mic (n.).
millimeter (mm) OK to abbreviate. Note hyphenation when the spelled-out version is used
as an adjective: 2.4 millimeters, 2.4 mm, 2.4-millimeter slot, 2.4 mm slot.
For film sizes, close up the numeral and the abbreviation: 16mm film.
million instructions per second See MIPS.
MIME Acronym for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension, commonly used to distinguish an
email format from plain text format. It’s not necessary to spell out on first occurrence. Use
as an adjective (a MIME file, MIME format).
mini (prefix) Close up except before a vowel, a proper noun, or an abbreviation.
minicircular connector, minitower
mini-application, mini-DVI, mini-VGA
MiniDV A digital video format.
mini-DVI A video output port for connecting external displays and TVs.
minimize (v.), minimized (adj.) OK to use to describe windows in the Dock.
To put a document in the Dock, click the minimize button.
Document windows in the Dock are minimized.
141Apple Style Guide
minimize button The middle (yellow) button of the three window controls at the left of the
title bar. Users click this button to put a window in the Dock (minimize the window).
See also minimize (v.), minimized (adj.).
minus sign Use minus sign, not minus symbol, to describe this symbol: –. Use an en dash
(generated by pressing Option-Hyphen) for a minus sign (except in code font, where a
hyphen is used).
MIPS Acronym for million instructions per second. Don’t drop the s when you refer
to a single unit: 1 MIPS, not 1 MIP. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
mixed-directional (adj.) Use to refer to a combination of left-to-right and right-to-left
text within a single line (French and Arabic on one line, for example). See also bidirectional
(adj.).
M-JPEG Pronounced “em-jay-peg.” The M stands for motion, and the form Motion-JPEG is
sometimes used. M-JPEG extends the JPEG standard to video. Not the same as MPEG.
mobile device OK to use to refer to handheld computing devices such as iPhone and iPad,
or to phones and tablets in general.
Numbers is the most innovative spreadsheet app available for a mobile
device.
When possible, however, use the name of a specific device, or describe the category of
device: iOS device, iPadOS device.
See also device.
mobile phone Use instead of cell phone or cellular phone. Don’t use simply as a synonym
for iPhone.
mode Don’t overuse mode; it can often be omitted with no change in meaning. In
particular, avoid referring to a feature as a mode if mode isn’t part of the feature name.
Correct: When you’re using the paintbrush…
Incorrect: When you’re in paintbrush mode…
Correct: In Stage Manager, you can group apps together for specific
tasks.
Incorrect: In Stage Manager mode, you can group apps together for
specific tasks.
142Apple Style Guide
If mode is part of a feature name, capitalize or use lowercase depending on the feature.
Action mode, Airplane Mode, burst mode, Cinematic mode, Dark Mode,
Express Mode, Lockdown Mode, Lost Mode, Low Data mode, Low Power
Mode, Night mode (iPhone), Night Mode (Apple Watch), Nightstand
mode, Portrait mode, recovery mode, Reference Mode, Ring mode,
safe mode, Silent mode, sleep mode, Smart Data mode, standby mode,
target disk mode, Theater Mode, Transparency mode, Voice Isolation
mode, Wide Spectrum mode
model Don’t use when you can use computer.
Correct: How you use this feature depends on which model of Mac
computer you have.
Correct: The setup guide that came with your computer provides
instructions.
Incorrect: The setup guide that came with your model provides
instructions.
modifier key Use instead of control key in the generic sense for a key that affects the
action of other keys, such as the Control, Option, Shift, Command, and Esc keys.
monitor In general, don’t use to refer to the primary display connected to the user’s
computer; use display. You can use monitor to refer generically to different kinds of display
devices that may be connected to a user’s computer (such as a CRT monitor or an NTSC
monitor).
Connect the display to your Mac Pro.
If you want to show your movie on an external monitor, first connect the
monitor to your computer.
monitor cable Not video cable or monitor cord. Use when you refer to cables for displays
other than Apple displays; otherwise, use display cable. (Use display power cord or monitor
power cord for the cord that goes from the display or monitor to the power source.) See
also display cable.
monitor depth Avoid; use color depth.
monitor port Not video port. Use to refer to the port to which a monitor is connected.
Don’t use monitor port to refer to the port to which an Apple display is connected. See also
display port.
monospaced (adj.) Not monospace. Fixed-width is the preferred term to describe fonts
(such as Courier) in which each character takes up the same amount of space.
More button Use to refer to a button with an ellipsis (either with a circle or without a
circle ) that opens a menu with additional options.
To show completed reminders, tap the More button , and then tap
Show Completed.
143Apple Style Guide
If you can’t use an inline graphic for the More button, you can use the ellipsis.circle SF
Symbols glyph, or look for the midline horizontal ellipsis character in Character Viewer.
To show completed reminders, tap the More button ⋯, and then tap
Show Completed.
See also Action pop-up menu; Character Viewer.
most recent See earlier, later; latest; version number.
motherboard Don’t use; use main logic board or main board.
mount (v.) In user materials, avoid when referring to making a disk or disk image available;
use alternatives such as open, make available, or connect to, or describe what the user
must do to make the disk available.
Avoid: To see the contents of a disk image, you must mount the disk
image.
Preferable: To see the contents of a disk image, you must open the disk
image by double-clicking it.
Avoid: Use the Recent Items command to mount servers you’ve recently
used.
Preferable: Use the Recent Items command to connect to servers you’ve
recently used.
In server materials or materials for more technical users, it’s OK to use mount.
To mount the disk again, select it in Disk Utility and click Mount.
Use this function to mount one or more server volumes.
Don’t use mount as an intransitive verb.
Correct: Mount the volume.
Incorrect: The volume mounts.
See also unmount (v.); unmounted (adj.).
mounted (adj.) In user materials, avoid when referring to a disk or disk image that’s
available; use alternatives such as available, on your desktop, or in a Finder window. (Note
that users can choose whether to display disk icons on their desktops, so be careful when
using on your desktop as an alternative for mounted.)
Avoid: All mounted disks are listed in the sidebar of the Finder window.
Preferable: All available disks are listed in the sidebar of the Finder
window.
In server materials or materials written for more technical users, it’s OK to use mounted.
You can’t rename a mounted Xsan volume using the Finder.
See also unmount (v.); unmounted (adj.).
144Apple Style Guide
mouse Avoid referring to the mouse when possible. Switch emphasis to the actions on the
screen, such as clicking, dragging, selecting, or choosing. See also choose; click; drag;
press; select (v.).
Avoid using the plural form of mouse. If you must use the plural, use either mouse devices
or mice.
Apple offers several types of mouse devices.
mouse-down event Note hyphenation.
Mouse Keys Capitalize when you refer to the feature that can be set in Accessibility
settings in macOS.
mousepad One word.
mouse scaling (n.), mouse-scaling (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
mouse-up event Note hyphenation.
movie In general, use to describe commercially produced films or the end product a user
creates in a video editing app such as iMovie or Final Cut Pro.
You can buy or rent movies in the Apple TV app.
You can publish your completed movie to a website such as YouTube.
See also iMovie; video.
MP3 Short for MPEG Audio Layer 3, an audio compression technology. The plural is MP3s.
Don’t use MP3 to refer to audio files in general; some files use AAC or other formats.
MPEG Acronym for Moving Picture Experts Group, a working group of the International
Standards Organization (ISO). The acronym is pronounced “em-peg.” It’s not necessary to
spell out on first occurrence.
MPEG usually refers to the family of digital video compression standards that the group
developed. There are three major versions: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4. MPEG-4 is
based on the QuickTime file format and defines standards for video and audio streaming.
There’s no MPEG-3. Note that MP3 is short for MPEG Audio Layer 3, not MPEG-3.
MPEG Audio Layer 3 See MP3.
M-series chips A series of systems on a chip (SoCs) built on Apple silicon. You can refer
to each set of M-series chips as a family (the M3 family of chips, the M4 family). M-series
chips include these families:
• M1 (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra)
• M2 (M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, and M2 Ultra)
• M3 (M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max, and M3 Ultra)
• M4 (M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max)
You can use the name of the chip with or without Apple.
The Apple M2 chip extends battery life while providing increased
performance.
MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip supports extreme workflows and
multitasking across pro apps.
145Apple Style Guide
It’s OK to omit chip when you refer to M-series chips repeatedly.
M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max bring massive enhancements and new features
to the Mac.
Like M4 Pro, M4 Max supports Thunderbolt 5 at transfer speeds of up
to 120 Gbit/s.
To refer to devices with an M-series chip, you can use terms such as Mac with the M4 chip
and iPad Pro with M4; don’t use M4 Mac, M4 iPad, or other variations. Don’t refer to an
M-series chip as a processor.
To refer generally to Mac models with Apple silicon, you can use a Mac with Apple silicon.
See also Apple silicon.
multi (prefix) Close up except before i.
multiplayer, multiprocessor, multitasking, multithreading, multiuser
multi-item
multicore Use to refer to processors that have more than one core.
multiple scan (adj.) No hyphen.
multiplication sign Not multiplication symbol.
multiprocessing, multiprocessor A multiprocessor computer has multiple processors, not
multiprocessors.
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension See MIME.
Multi-Touch Refers to the Apple touchscreen interface. Related terms include Multi-Touch
display, Multi-Touch interface, Multi-Touch technology, Multi-Touch trackpad, and Multi-
Touch gestures.
Music See Apple Music.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface See MIDI.
Mute key Note capitalization.
My Photo Stream The iCloud feature. You turn on or turn off My Photo Stream.
Don’t use the term photo stream generically to refer to the photos in My Photo Stream;
always use the full feature name.
Correct: You can see the photos in My Photo Stream on all your devices.
Incorrect: You can see the photos in your photo stream on all your
devices.
Use My Photo Stream album to refer to the album where photos are stored on a device or
in an app.
When My Photo Stream is turned on, you can see your most recent
photos in the My Photo Stream album.
See also iCloud Photos.
146Apple Style Guide
N
name server Two words.
narrowband One word.
native In user materials, avoid using native to describe apps; instead, describe the apps as
being designed to work with specific hardware or software.
For best performance, use an app designed for use on Intel-based Mac
computers.
network Computers are on, not in, a network.
network time server Note lowercase.
neurodivergence (n.), neurodivergent (adj.) Use neurodivergence to refer to a
neurological difference (such as dyslexia). Use neurodivergent to refer to an individual who
identifies as having a neurodivergence.
A few examples of neurodivergence include ADHD, dyslexia, and autism.
Some people are born with a neurodivergence.
A neurodivergent person brings unique strengths to the workplace.
Use neurotypical to refer to a person who isn’t neurodivergent.
See also autism (n.), autistic (adj.); neurodiversity (n.), neurodiverse (adj.); Writing about
disability.
neurodiversity (n.), neurodiverse (adj.) Use neurodiversity to refer to the range of natural
variation in neurocognitive function (the way people think and process information). Use
neurodiverse to refer to a group of people who have a variety of neurocognitive styles.
Researchers have learned more about neurodiversity.
The school has a neurodiverse student body.
Don’t refer to a single individual as neurodiverse; use neurodivergent.
See also autism (n.), autistic (adj.); neurodivergence (n.), neurodivergent (adj.); Writing
about disability.
new In most documents, avoid describing a product or feature as new because the text
will quickly become out of date. When appropriate, state the version of software in which a
feature was introduced.
Correct: Auto Unlock, introduced with macOS Sierra 10.12…
Incorrect: The new Auto Unlock feature…
News See Apple News.
newsgroup One word.
nickel-metal-hydride Abbreviated NiMH. See also batteries.
147Apple Style Guide
non (prefix) Close up except before a proper noun, a proper adjective, an abbreviation, or
an acronym, or when the resulting word would be difficult to read.
noncompliant, nondestructive, nonstandard
non-Apple, non-Mac, non-USB
See also prefixes.
nonce Don’t use to refer to a random, one-time value used to protect against a replay
attack; use anti-replay value. See also anti-replay value.
nonsexist language See Writing inclusively.
nonstartup disk Avoid when possible. Instead, use a disk that doesn’t contain system
software or another appropriate phrase.
normal installation Not normal install. Users perform a normal installation; they don’t do a
normal install. See also custom installation.
normal user See standard user.
Note Use the Note tag for information that’s relevant to a topic but that may not apply to
all readers. You can also use a note for a bit of information that’s tangential to a topic.
Use notes and other notices sparingly. They lose their effectiveness if they appear too
often. Don’t use a Note tag immediately before or after a Warning notice, an Important
notice, or another note, or immediately after a text heading.
See also Important; Warning.
notebook computer Don’t use; use laptop or laptop computer. See also laptop.
notes, Notes Use lowercase to refer to notes the user creates. Capitalize when referring to
the app name.
You can use the Notes app to share notes with friends and family.
Notification Center Don’t precede with the.
To open Notification Center, click the date and time in the menu bar.
number If space is limited, abbreviate as no. See also number sign.
numbers Spell out the following numbers:
• Cardinal numbers from one through nine. (However, use a numeral, no matter how small,
to express numbers as numbers and as units of measure.)
You can use your purchases on up to five computers.
For example, if you have four new messages, the number 4 appears on
the app icon.
• Ordinal numbers from zero through nine.
You can install drives in the second, third, and fourth drive bays.
148Apple Style Guide
• Numbers that appear at the beginning of a sentence. (Try to rephrase to avoid starting a
sentence with a number.)
Correct: Two hundred fifty functions are available in the Function
Browser.
Preferable: The Function Browser gives you access to 250 functions.
• A number that appears next to another number, if it helps readability.
There are sixteen 32-bit registers.
Use numerals:
• To refer to numbers as numbers.
The numeral 8 occurs eight times.
• To refer to a specific address, bit, byte, chapter, field, key, pin, sector, slot, or track, or
when expressing amounts of memory.
Open the ejectors on slots 1, 2, and 3.
8-pin minicircular connector
Your Mac Pro comes with a minimum of 16 GB of memory.
• To form ordinal numbers larger than nine (add st, nd, rd, or th to the numeral as
appropriate).
• For numbers of the same category within a paragraph, if any number is larger than nine.
We have 25 computers and 4 printers on the network. [Computers and
printers are the same category.]
There are two kinds of 32-bit registers. [Kinds of registers and bits are
different categories.]
• For units of measure, including units of time, no matter how small the number is. For a
list of units of measure, see Names and unit symbols for units of measure.
Set the timer for 3 minutes.
Apple Music1 is a worldwide radio station that’s available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week.
You can’t set paragraph margins of less than 1 inch.
If you increase the clip’s speed to 200 percent, FinalCutPro removes
frames and the clip plays back in only 2.5 seconds.
• To express an approximation.
Cocoa includes definitions for more than 250 additional classes.
149Apple Style Guide
Follow these additional guidelines for numbers:
• Ranges of numbers: Use an en dash between numbers that represent the endpoints of a
continuous range: bits 3–17. Use the full concluding number in a range of numbers.
Correct: 2013–2019
Incorrect: 2013–19
• Commas: Use a comma to set off numbers of five digits or more. (If your editor has
asked you to follow international style, see Decimals.)
1024
65,536
Don’t use a comma in memory addresses or in numbers representing microprocessors.
FFFF FFFF
68020 microprocessor
• Plural: Form the plural of a number by adding an s.
1s and 5s
the ’90s
• Software version numbers: When you refer to software version numbers, use later and
earlier. For example, macOS 10.13 or later. See also version number.
• Code values in text: Use numerals for numeric values in text except for zero in the same
sentence as nonzero.
ord(blue) returns 0.
The function fseek returns nonzero for improper seeks; otherwise, it
returns zero.
• Large numbers: For very large numbers that are a power of 2, you can use the
exponential form to avoid a long string of digits—for example, 2
32
. Numbers larger than
65,536 (2
16
) are good candidates for showing in exponential form. If there are numbers
larger and smaller than 65,536 in the same discussion, show the smaller numbers both
ways.
x must be between 1024 (2
10
) and 2
32
.
See also fractions.
number sign Use to describe this character: #. Don’t use pound sign or number symbol.
Avoid using the number sign to specify an item in a numbered series.
You can frequently omit number or the number sign from a sentence and still make the
meaning clear.
See document 58677 for more information.
Use part 661-2262 to repair the computer.
numeric (adj.) Not numerical, except when you refer specifically to numerical order. See
also numerics (n., adj.).
150Apple Style Guide
numeric keypad Can be shortened to keypad. Don’t use numerical keypad or numeric
keyboard.
numerics (n., adj.) As a noun, numerics takes a singular verb. Use numerics (not numeric)
as an adjective in relation to the science of numerics: numerics capabilities, numerics
environment.
NVIDIA Note spelling.
O
offline Use to describe a device or account that’s not connected to the internet or a
network. Be sure the context makes it clear what offline means.
If your email account is offline (not connected to the internet), you can’t
send or receive mail.
In informal contexts, it’s OK to describe people as being offline, but use a more specific
term if necessary for clarity.
Acceptable: If you want to go offline for a while, turn on Do Not Disturb.
Acceptable: You can read your saved articles at any time—even when
you’re offline.
Preferable: You can read your saved articles at any time—even when
you’re not connected to the internet.
See also online.
offscreen (adj., adv.) One word.
offsite One word.
OK Not okay.
onboard (adj., v.), on board (pred. adj.) In computing, onboard (short for on the board)
refers to components attached to a circuit board or logic board. Use built in (as in built-in
graphics card) or internal unless you need to make clear that a component is attached to a
board.
In internal communications, it’s OK to use onboard as a verb: Onboard your new employee.
Use two words when on board is an adjective following a verb: Make sure your employee is
on board. Don’t use onboard as a verb in user materials.
once Don’t use when you mean after.
Correct: After you turn on the computer…
Incorrect: Once you turn on the computer…
one-click (adj.) OK to use to refer to actions or functions that are very simple.
From one-click fixes to detailed editing, there are a number of tools
available in Photos.
Don’t use 1-Click.
151Apple Style Guide
online One word. Use to describe content or services that are available on the internet or a
network.
Some books contain online content, which is stored on the web, not in
the book file.
Safari keeps your information secure when you shop online.
In informal contexts, it’s OK to describe people as being online, but in most cases use a
more specific term (for example, signed in or connected to the internet).
Acceptable: Follow these tips to keep your kids safe when they’re
online.
Correct: To use Siri, you must have an internet connection.
Incorrect: To use Siri, you must be online.
You can refer to devices as online if the context makes it clear what that means.
Correct: You can locate your Mac if it’s online—awake and connected to
a Wi-Fi network.
Incorrect: You can locate your Mac if it’s online.
See also offline.
on/off switch Not on/off button.
onscreen (adj., adv.) One word.
onsite One word.
on-the-go playlist Note hyphens.
onto, on to Use on to when on is part of the verb.
Correct: Hang on to the handles.
Correct: Lift the printer onto the table.
Incorrect: Lift the printer on to the table.
See also into, in to.
open Users open icons, folders, documents, and apps. See also close.
opening display Not splash screen. Opening display, startup display, and startup screen
are all OK.
open source (n., adj.) No hyphen.
operating system (n.), operating-system (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective. See also
iOS; iPadOS; Mac operating systems; tvOS; visionOS; watchOS.
optical disc CDs and DVDs are optical discs. OK to use optical disc, optical media, or the
type of CD or DVD. See also CD; DVD.
optical drive Use instead of CD drive or DVD drive to refer generally to drives that read
from and write to (burn) optical discs (CDs and DVDs). Exception: Refer specifically to
SuperDrive when appropriate. See also SuperDrive.
152Apple Style Guide
optical inserts See ZEISS Optical Inserts.
Optic ID An authentication technology using iris recognition. Don’t precede with the. It’s
OK to use Optic ID alone or in terms such as Optic ID technology.
You can use Optic ID to authorize purchases and unlock
AppleVisionPro.
optionally Avoid in user materials. Instead, describe the reason the user would perform
the action. If it’s important to emphasize that the action is optional, you can say If you
want to…
Correct: If you want to set a disk quota, enter the number and specify
megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
Incorrect: Optionally, enter a disk quota and specify megabytes (MB) or
gigabytes (GB).
Correct: To set a trust level, enter the command in Terminal.
Incorrect: Optionally, set the trust level by entering the command in
Terminal.
Option-click (v.) Equivalent to press the Option key while you click.
To add a Bezier point, Option-click the path.
See also key, keys.
Option-drag (v.) Equivalent to press and hold the Option key while you drag.
To copy a bookmark, Option-drag it.
See also key, keys.
Option key To refer to the action of pressing the Option key while performing a mouse or
trackpad action, use Option-click or Option-drag. See also Alt key.
option names For options and other onscreen elements of two or more words whose
names are capitalized using sentence style, use quotation marks in text to avoid
misreading.
Select the checkbox labeled “Keep lines together.”
OSX See Mac operating systems.
OSX Server See macOS Server.
outbox One word.
outline font Not outlined font.
output (n., adj.) Avoid as a verb; use write to, display on, print on, or print to.
outside Not outside of.
over Don’t use when you mean more than.
Correct: You can add more than 1000 songs.
Incorrect: You can add over 1000 songs.
153Apple Style Guide
P
page See homepage; webpage.
pair, paired You pair a device with another device, not to.
To use Apple Watch, pair it with iPhone.
Use paired iPhone, not companion iPhone, to refer to the iPhone that an Apple Watch is
paired with. Use paired Apple Watch to refer to an Apple Watch that has been paired with
an iPhone.
PAL Acronym for Phase Alternating Line, a European color video standard. For guidelines
about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
pane In user materials, use pane (not panel) to refer to an area within a window or dialog
that can be changed by clicking a button: the AutoFill pane of Safari settings.
In many cases, you can avoid using pane by describing how to get to a particular onscreen
item: Open Safari settings, and then click AutoFill. It’s OK to refer to a pane within a pane.
See also tab.
panel Don’t use in user materials; use dialog, window, or pane.
In developer materials, use panel in most contexts because Panel appears in the
names of programming symbols—for example, SFChooseIdentityPanel and
SFCertificatePanel. When, however, the panel is seen by the developer as a user
sees it—such as when giving instructions for using developer apps—use the appropriate
user term.
See also dialog; pane; window.
parental controls Don’t use family controls.
parenthesis (sing.), parentheses (pl.) Note different spelling of singular and plural. See
also punctuation.
parts Most documents don’t need to be divided into parts; division into chapters is usually
sufficient. A good candidate for division into parts is a document that describes two or
more separate products or a document that’s so long that division into parts is necessary
to make the organization clearer to the reader.
• Part titles: Documents are divided into parts when each part deals with a distinct topic.
Part titles indicate that difference in subject matter.
• Part numbers: Roman numerals are usually used for part numbers, but your
department’s design style may specify arabic numerals.
• Chapter numbering: In a document with parts, chapter numbering continues
uninterrupted from part to part.
• Cross-references: In references to specific parts of a document, italicize the document
title but not the word Part, the part number, or the part title. Enclose the part title in
quotation marks.
passcode See code, passcode.
154Apple Style Guide
passive voice Avoid when possible and use active voice. Passive voice is sometimes
appropriate and necessary—for example, when using the active voice would require either a
highly convoluted sentence structure or excessive anthropomorphism—but rewrite to avoid
passive voice if you can.
In tutorials, a passive construction might be appropriate to avoid miscuing the reader—that
is, when you describe an action that the user isn’t supposed to try yet.
Explanation screen: An icon is selected by clicking it.
User-try screen: You try it. Click the icon.
passkey Use to refer to a sign-in method for apps and websites that’s more secure than
a password.Don’t use when you mean code, passcode, or password. See also code,
passcode; password.
passphrase Avoid in user materials. Use passcode, password, or passkey, depending on
the context. See also code, passcode; passkey; password.
password Use to refer to a sequence of characters a user enters to gain access to a
protected resource. Don’t use when you mean code, passcode, or passkey. See also code,
passcode; passkey.
pasteboard Don’t use in user materials when you mean Clipboard. OK to use in developer
materials that discuss the NSPasteboard class, but point out that users view the contents
of the pasteboard in the Clipboard.
pathnames Follow these guidelines to specify the path to a location in the file system:
• Absolute path: An absolute path describes the location of an item starting at the top
level, or root, of the user’s file system. In user materials, describe such paths in plain
English.
Open TextEdit, located in the Applications folder at the top level of the
computer.
Fonts for all users are stored in the Fonts folder in the Library folder at
the top level of the internal disk.
For more technical audiences (for example, users who are accustomed to the pathname
conventions used in operating systems such as macOS and UNIX), you can use slashes
(including a leading slash) to indicate an absolute path. (In developer materials,
pathnames are in code font.)
Fonts for all users are stored in /Library/Fonts/.
You can also use slashes in user materials if the path goes more than two folders deep
from the top level of the file system.
Place the file in the /System/Library/Keychains/ folder.
• Relative path: If there’s no leading slash, the path is a relative path—that is, relative to
some location other than the root folder.
Make sure the file is in Library/Application Support.
155Apple Style Guide
• Home folder: In user materials, use your to indicate that the item being described is in
the user’s home folder. Use plain English (no slashes) to describe folders that are just
one or two levels deep.
Your files are saved in your Documents folder.
Your fonts are located in the Fonts folder in your Library folder.
If the folders go more than two levels deep, you can use slashes to avoid awkward
construction and wordiness. (Don’t use a leading slash, because that would indicate
that the starting point is at the top level of the startup disk, not the user’s home folder.)
Copy the file to Library/Application Support/Address Book/ in your home
folder.
For more technical audiences, you can use a tilde (~) to specify a path within the user’s
home folder.
The files are saved in ~/Documents.
Copy the file to ~/Library/Application Support/Address Book.
You can also use an absolute path with the word username in italics.
Each user’s files are saved in /Users/username/Documents.
• Terminating slash: A terminating slash indicates that the final element of the path is a
folder rather than a file. You can choose whether or not to use a terminating slash, but
be consistent within a document.
You can find the files you’ve downloaded in ~/Library/Mail Downloads/.
See also code font; home folder, home directory.
PB (n., adj.) Abbreviation for petabyte. PB equals 1000
5
bytes in the context of file size or
storage capacity, and 1024
5
bytes in the context of computer memory. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. The
preposition of is necessary before the unit that the value quantifies.
1.6 PB of memory
1 PB of data
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
1.6 PB RAM module
4 PB multiserver system
PC Avoid PC when you refer to Apple personal computers. Use personal computer or
computer. It’s OK to use PC, Windows-based PC, or Windows PC to refer to non-Apple
personal computers.
QuickTime is available for both Mac computers and Windows-based
PCs.
You can share Mac files with a PC on a wireless network.
See also Microsoft Windows.
P-code Stands for pseudocode.
156Apple Style Guide
PDF Abbreviation for Portable Document Format. Not necessary to spell out on first
occurrence. Use to refer to a PDF file.
You can add effects to PDFs in Preview.
Open the PDF files that you want to combine.
See also file types.
pencil See Apple Pencil.
People View The view on AppleVisionPro where you can make a FaceTime call, send
messages, and view contacts. See also Apps View; Environments View; Home View.
percent Always preceded by a numeral, no matter how small the value.
1 percent
• Percent symbol: It’s OK to use the percent symbol (%) instead of the word percent in
technical appendixes, specification lists, and tables, or when the word must appear so
many times in a text passage that its use becomes cumbersome.
• Nonspecific quantities: When you describe a nonspecific quantity, use percentage, as in
a small percentage of the population.
periods See ellipsis.
peripheral A device that can be connected to a computer. Peripheral devices include
printers, scanners, disk drives, modems, displays, and keyboards. OK to use peripheral
device, peripheral, or device. The adjective is singular: peripheral manufacturer, peripheral
connections.
peripheral card Not accessory card. When appropriate, use the more specific term
interface card.
Persona A 3D likeness used in FaceTime on AppleVisionPro. Precede with the, another
article, or a possessive adjective. Don’t use avatar.
You can capture your Persona when you set up AppleVisionPro.
Personal Hotspot, Instant Hotspot Personal Hotspot refers to sharing the internet
connection of an iOS or iPadOS device with other devices or computers. Capitalize when
referring to either the feature or a hotspot created by a user.
When Personal Hotspot is on, other devices can connect to your
Personal Hotspot using Wi-Fi.
Instant Hotspot refers to sharing a device’s Personal Hotspot with other devices where
the user is signed in to the same Apple Account. In general, use Instant Hotspot only as a
feature name—don’t use to refer to an individual hotspot.
Correct: With Instant Hotspot, you can quickly connect to your Personal
Hotspot without entering a password.
Incorrect: You can quickly connect to your Instant Hotspot without
entering a password.
157Apple Style Guide
petabyte See PB (n., adj.).
Phillips screw, Phillips screwdriver Note spelling. Not Phillips-head screw or Phillips-
head screwdriver.
phone numbers See telephone numbers.
photo The primary term for photographic images. Don’t use photograph.
You can use Photos to view, edit, and share your photos.
You can also refer to photos as images (especially when discussing a photo’s appearance
or content), pictures, or shots.
You can crop a photo to remove parts of the image.
The image appears darker where the adjustment is applied.
Taking a picture using a flash can result in red pupils in people’s eyes.
Create a slideshow to showcase your best shots.
See also snapshot.
Photo Stream Don’t use. See also My Photo Stream.
picker Don’t use the term picker in user materials to describe how to select a color or a
date. Instead, describe what users must do, describing the part of the interface where a
task is done, if it’s helpful.
Correct: Select a color in the Colors window.
Correct: The left side of the color well shows colors that match the
theme; the color wheel opens the Colors window, where you can choose
any color.
Correct: To set a date, tap + or – for the unit (month, day, hour, and so
on) you want to change.
Incorrect: Select a color in the color picker.
See also Colors window; color well.
picture OK to use as a synonym for photo and in standard phrases such as desktop
picture and profile picture. See also photo.
Picture in Picture (n., adj.), picture-in-picture (adj.) Use Picture in Picture to refer to the
feature that lets users view a movie in one portion of the screen while doing other tasks.
To stop playing a movie using Picture in Picture, click .
You can drag the Picture in Picture window to any corner of the screen.
In general references to the capability of playing a smaller video within a larger area, you
can use picture-in-picture.
Select the clip you want to use as a picture-in-picture clip.
In documents where you use Picture in Picture or picture-in-picture frequently, you can use
the abbreviation PiP after the first occurrence.
158Apple Style Guide
pillarboxing (n.), pillarbox (v., adj.), pillarboxed (adj.) Refers to the black bars placed
at the sides of video to preserve the original aspect ratio when the video is presented in a
format with a wider aspect ratio.
Pillarboxing allows 4:3 video to be displayed in a widescreen format.
You can pillarbox video with a 4:3 aspect ratio to display it in a
widescreen format.
You can crop the video image to remove the pillarbox area (the black
bars at the sides of the image).
See also aspect ratio; letterboxing (n.), letterbox (v., adj.), letterboxed (adj.).
pin (n., v.) Use the noun pin to refer to an item that marks a location on a map.
Use the verb pin to refer to saving an item for later use—such as pinning a website to the
tab bar in Safari, pinning a location in Maps, or pinning a Siri search result to Notification
Center.
PIN Acronym for personal identification number. When discussing iOS or iPadOS devices,
use only to refer to the PIN used to unlock a SIM card. See also code, passcode.
pinch (v.) Refers to a gesture that can be performed on a device with a touchscreen
or trackpad, or on Apple Vision Pro. Usage is slightly different in each case; follow the
guidelines below.
• On devices with touchscreens or trackpads:Pinch refers to the act of placing two fingers
on the touchscreen or trackpad and then moving them closer together or farther apart.
Pinch the photo to zoom in or out.
In most cases, you can use just pinch, but if you need to describe the motion in more
detail, you can use pinch open to describe moving the fingers apart and pinch closed
for moving the fingers together. (Note that developer materials use pinch close.)
• On AppleVisionPro:Pinch refers to the act of pinching and holding your thumb and
finger together.
Use pinch and hold to refer to pinching an element or control in the interface until
additional options appear.
To unsend a message, pinch and hold it, and then tap Undo Send.
Use pinch and drag to refer to pinching an object and dragging to move it, and pinch
and scroll to refer to pinching and scrolling through content, lists of options, and so on.
To resize an object, pinch and drag a blue dot on any side of the object.
Pinch and scroll to see more photos.
See also gestures; tap (n., v.).
Pinned Sites Capitalize when referring to the feature in Safari; use lowercase when
referring generically to sites the user pinned.
With Pinned Sites, you can keep your favorite websites handy.
Your pinned sites appear at the left end of the tab bar.
Avoid referring to pinned sites as pinned tabs unless you need to refer to the tab itself.
To unpin a site, drag the pinned tab to the right side of the tab bar.
159Apple Style Guide
pixel Short for picture element, the basic element of a digital image or display. A pixel is
made of dots (also called subpixels). There are usually three dots per pixel: a red, a green,
and a blue.
Width is measured in square pixels.
Express pixels using numerals.
640 x 360 pixels
See also bit (n., adj.); dot (n.).
placeholder names When referring to interface text that varies depending on the context,
use italic, lowercase text enclosed in brackets (don’t italicize the brackets).
Choose File> [filename].
Choose File> Export To> [submenu item].
Select the “Show last [numeral] photos” checkbox.
Don’t use brackets with placeholders in pathnames and filenames.
Users/username/Library/
The file is saved as filename.apmetadata.
See also pathnames; variables.
playback (n., adj.), play back (v.) One word except as a verb.
player Don’t use the with the full name of a product whose name includes Player, unless
the product name is used as an adjective modifying a noun.
Correct: Use QuickTime Player to view the movie.
Correct: Open the QuickTime Player app.
Incorrect: Open the QuickTime Player.
playhead One word.
playlist Use lowercase in general references: Create a playlist. Capitalize in feature names:
Genius Playlist, Smart Playlist.
please Avoid using please in instructional text and cross-references.
Correct: Follow the steps below.
Incorrect: Please follow the steps below.
Correct: For more information, see “Store Settings” on page96.
Incorrect: For more information, please see “Store Settings” on
page96.
plug Not male connector. See also connector.
plug and play (v., pred. adj.), plug-and-play (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
160Apple Style Guide
plug-in (n.) Always hyphenate, unless you’re quoting text (such as a product name or
interface text) that doesn’t contain a hyphen.
Use plug-ins to extend the capabilities of Safari.
In text that uses title-style capitalization, use lowercase for the i in Plug-in (exception to
the rule that you capitalize the second word in a hyphenated compound).
Installing and Removing Plug-ins
plug in (v.), plug into (v.) Use when you refer to the specific act of plugging a connector
into a port or an outlet. For example, a power cord plugs into an electrical outlet; you can
plug a USB connector into a USB port. See also connect; connector; into, in to.
plurals Follow these guidelines for plurals:
• Acronyms and abbreviations: To form the plural of an acronym or an abbreviation, add
an s but no apostrophe.
CDs, DVDs
• Adjectives: Don’t add an s to an adjective unless necessary. For example, it’s electronic
circuit but electronics engineer. Other words that fall into this class of adjectives are
graphic and graphics, communication and communications, numeric and numerics.
• Letters and symbols: To form the plural of a letter or symbol, add an apostrophe and an
s.
p’s, +’s
• Numbers: Form the plural of numbers by adding an s.
1s, 1930s
• Nouns: Don’t use (s) to indicate that a noun can be either singular or plural. To refer to
both the singular and plural forms, spell them out; if possible, rewrite to avoid either
construction.
Acceptable: initializing your disk or disks
Preferable: initializing disks
Incorrect: initializing your disk(s)
• Trademarked product names: Form the plural of trademarked product names by adding
the plural generic noun to the singular product name.
Correct: Mac computers, MacBookPro computers, iMac computers
Incorrect: Macs, MacBookPros, iMacs
If a product name includes a generic noun as well as a trademarked adjective, form the
plural as you would with any noun.
AirPort Cards, AppleCare Service Parts Kits
• Words as words: Form the plural of a word italicized to show that it’s used as a word by
adding an apostrophe and an s. Don’t italicize the apostrophe or the s.
He had too many and’s in the sentence.
161Apple Style Guide
plus sign Not plus symbol.
p.m. Note periods: 6:30 p.m. Use a space before the abbreviation.
podcast, podcasting (n., v., adj.) You can refer to podcasts using either podcast or
show. Don’t use pod. A podcast consists of one or more episodes; a podcast with multiple
episodes is called a series.
Search for any podcast by name.
Discover the most popular shows using Top Charts.
When you subscribe to a podcast, you get new episodes as they’re
released.
Use italics to refer to the title of a podcast; use quotation marks for the titles of episodes.
point (n., adj.) Use only when writing about font sizes. Don’t use as a synonym for dot or
to describe a place or spot on the screen. Express points using numerals.
Body text should be at least 12 points.
point (v.) When you describe the desktop interface, avoid using point as a verb. Instead,
use move the pointer to or similar wording.
Avoid: Point to an item to see a description of what you can do with it.
Preferable: Hold the pointer over an item to see a description of what
you can do with it.
pointer In most cases, you can refer to the arrow pointer as simply the pointer. Don’t use
cursor.
The Finder and some apps have different kinds of pointers depending on what the user is
doing (for example, the crosshair pointer or the I-beam pointer).
Use a specific name for a pointer only if you need to distinguish between different types of
pointers—for example, in tasks where the pointer changes to a different shape.
Drag the crosshair pointer over the area you want to capture.
See also cursor; insertion point.
point of presence See POP.
POP Acronym for point of presence (access point to the internet) and Post Office Protocol.
When used as an acronym for Post Office Protocol, POP must modify a noun (as in POP
server or POP ID). For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and
acronyms.
162Apple Style Guide
popover Don’t use in user materials; instead, simply describe what the user must select
or do. If necessary, you can use in the list that appears or similar wording. Don’t call it a
dialog or window.
Correct: Tap Print.
Incorrect: Tap Print in the popover.
Correct: Scroll to the bottom of the list of messages and tap Load More
Messages.
Incorrect: Scroll to the bottom of the popover and tap Load More
Messages.
pop-up (n., adj.) When referring to ads or unsolicited notices that open from a browser
window, it’s preferred to use pop-up as an adjective (pop-up ads, pop-up window).
However, in headings and other places where space is a consideration, or in content where
you have to use the term repeatedly, it’s OK to use pop-up as a short form of the noun.
You can prevent websites from displaying pop-ups.
Don’t use pop-up to refer to a pop-up menu; always use pop-up menu.
pop-up menu See menus.
port Use to refer to a location for passing data in and out of a computer or device. Don’t
use connector to refer to a port. See also connector; jack; slot; socket.
portable computer Avoid; use laptop or laptop computer. You can still describe a Mac
laptop as portable: MacBook Air is Apple’s most portable laptop. See also laptop.
Portable Document Format See PDF.
possessives Follow these guidelines for possessives:
• Singular nouns: Form the possessive of a singular noun, including one that ends in s, by
adding an apostrophe and an s.
the device’s dock connector
the boss’s husband
• Plural nouns: Form the possessive of a plural noun that ends in s by adding an
apostrophe. Form the possessive of a plural noun that doesn’t end in s by adding an
apostrophe and an s.
the students’ curriculum
children’s requirements
• Proper nouns or names: Form the possessive of a singular proper noun or proper name,
including one that ends in s, by adding an apostrophe and an s. Form the possessive of
a plural proper noun or proper name by adding an apostrophe.
Susan Torres’s biography [singular]
the Joneses’ computer [plural]
• Product names: Rewrite to avoid forming a possessive of any product name,
trademarked or not (for example, don’t use Keynote’s slides). See also trademarks
(usage).
163Apple Style Guide
post (prefix) Close up except before a proper noun or a date.
postgraduate, postmortem, posttest
post-WWDC event, post-2017
Exception: post-production
post (v.) OK to use post to or post on when referring to publishing something on the
internet or another network.
Post Office Protocol See POP.
pound sign Don’t use; use number sign for this character: #. See also number sign.
power adapter Lowercase except in product names: 60W MagSafe Power Adapter. Avoid
AC adapter.
power button The button on a computer or display used to turn the computer or display
on or off. See also power switch.
power cable, power cord Note lowercase.
power-down (n., adj.), power down (v.) Don’t use in user materials; use turn off or shut
down. See also shutdown (n., adj.), shut down (v.); turn on, turn off.
Power Nap Not PowerNap.
power off (v.) Don’t use in user materials; use shut down or turn off. See also shutdown
(n., adj.), shut down (v.); turn on, turn off.
power on (v.) Don’t use in user materials; use turn on. See also turn on, turn off.
power-on light Note hyphenation.
power port Note lowercase.
Power Reserve mode Use only to refer to the mode in watchOS 8 or earlier; otherwise, use
Low Power Mode. See also Low Power Mode.
power switch OK to use when you’re not sure what kind of power control a device has.
See also power button.
power-up (n., adj.), power up (v.) Don’t use in user materials; use turn on or start up.
PRAM Acronym for parameter random-access memory. Pronounced “PEA-ram.” For
guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
pre (prefix) Close up except before a proper noun or a date.
preinstalled, preexisting, preproduction
pre-WWDC event, pre-2025
Exception: pre-order
predictive text Use to refer to the iOS and macOS feature that predicts the next
word users will type and offers suggested words or emoji. Use typing suggestions or
suggestions to refer to what users see and select on the screen (in iOS) or in the TouchBar
(in macOS).
164Apple Style Guide
preface Depending on your department’s guidelines, you may use a preface to tell the
reader about the document, to describe conventions such as special notation (for example,
code font), and to outline what the reader will find where. Discussion of the product
itself usually belongs in the document text, not in the preface, although it’s sometimes
appropriate to include introductory information about the product in the preface.
A preface should have a title, such as “About This Guide” or “Introduction.” When you refer
to a document’s preface, use the full preface title.
See the preface, “About This Guide.”
If your department template includes the word Preface, you may instead refer to it as the
preface.
preferences When discussing System Preferences (in macOS 12 and earlier), you can
shorten the name of each set of system preferences to [preference name]preferences, as
in Accessibility preferences (note lowercase preferences).
Use Sound preferences to change volume settings.
However, always capitalize the name System Preferences.
Use the Trackpad pane of System Preferences to set the tracking speed.
When discussing app preferences in macOS 12 and earlier, use lowercase preferences.
Use the Privacy pane of Safari preferences to block website cookies.
See also settings, Settings; System Preferences.
prefixes In most cases, close up prefixes (such as multi, non, post, and pre) with the
following word. Exceptions:
• Compounds that contain proper nouns (non-Apple)
• Compounds with double i’s or double a’s (anti-inflammatory, meta-analysis)
• Compounds that are homographs or could be misread (re-cover)
• Compounds with double prefixes (sub-subentry)
• Compounds that contain a compound term (non-self-sustaining)
See The Chicago Manual of Style for more examples.
preinstalled, preloaded Avoid. Say installed, loaded, included, or other wording when
possible.
prepositions It’s OK to end a sentence with a preposition, especially when rewriting would
produce a stiff-sounding phrase.
Play a trailer you’re working on.
Select the playlist you want to add songs to.
165Apple Style Guide
preset (n., adj.) Use to refer to a group of customized settings an app provides or the
user saves for reuse.
In most cases you can use the default settings, but you can also choose
a preset you saved from a previous print job.
To share a preset, copy the preset file to another computer.
See also default (n., adj.).
press Use to describe the act of pressing and quickly releasing keys on the keyboard and
mechanical buttons and switches. Don’t use click, hit, push, tap, or type.
Correct: Press the Return key.
Correct: Press the power button.
Incorrect: Type your password and hit the Return key.
You can also use press to describe the act of pressing the stem on some models of AirPods.
• Don’t use press to refer to onscreen items; use click, force click, or click and hold.
Correct: Click and hold an icon in the Dock until a menu appears.
Correct: Force click an address to see it on a map.
Incorrect: Press an icon in the Dock until a menu appears.
However, you can use press when giving instructions for using the accelerator feature
of a Force Touch trackpad. (In such cases, the person isn’t pressing an onscreen item;
it’s implied that they’re pressing the trackpad.)
Click and hold the Next button; press harder to increase the speed.
See also click and hold; force click (v.).
• Don’t use press when you mean press and hold.
Correct: Press and hold the C key while you restart the computer.
Incorrect: Press the C key and restart the computer. [It’s not clear that
you need to keep pressing.]
It’s OK to say just press if the sentence makes it clear that you need to press
continuously.
Press the side button until the Power Reserve slider appears.
See also press and hold.
• Don’t say press and drag; simply say drag.
See also click; enter; tap (n., v.); type (v.).
press and hold Use press and hold (not hold down) to describe the act of pressing the
mouse or trackpad, a key on the keyboard, or a mechanical button until a specified action
or result occurs.
Don’t use press and hold when you mean press, which means to press and quickly release
a key or mechanical button.
Correct: To restart your Mac, press and hold the power button.
Incorrect: To restart your Mac, press the power button.
166Apple Style Guide
Don’t use press and hold when you mean click and hold. Click and hold refers to using the
mouse or trackpad to interact with onscreen items; press and hold refers to interacting
with the physical mouse or trackpad itself.
Click the Next button to go to the next clip, or click and hold the Next
button to fast-forward.
Drag refers to the act of positioning the pointer, pressing and holding
the mouse, moving the mouse, and then releasing.
See also click and hold; press; touch and hold.
print (v.) Not print out.
printed circuit board (n., adj.) No hyphen.
printout (n.) One word.
print out (v.) Don’t use; use print.
print server Two words.
Private Browsing Capitalize the feature name.
When you use Private Browsing in Safari, the details of your browsing
aren’t saved.
Use private window (not Private window or Private Browsing window) or private tab for the
window or tab that’s open while you’re using Private Browsing.
Private Cloud Compute The cloud intelligence system designed to handle Apple
Intelligence interactions that aren’t handled on device. It’s OK to abbreviate as PCC after
first reference.
problem Don’t use in phrases such as this is a known problem or this version fixes that
problem. Use condition, issue, or situation. It’s OK to use problem in a general way, such as
the following:
If you have a problem registering, try again in a few moments.
processor Synonymous with microprocessor for Apple products. In user materials, the
simpler processor is preferred. See also CPU.
product Use to refer generically to items customers can get from Apple, including
hardware, software, and services.
To get support for your Apple product, go to support.apple.com.
Apple products are intuitive and easy to use.
Don’t use product in materials that discuss using and working with a specific device, such
as a Mac or Apple Watch. Instead, use the name of the device or an acceptable short
form—for example, computer instead of Mac, or watch instead of Apple Watch.
Acceptable: Slide the computer out of the rack.
Preferable: Slide the Mac Pro out of the rack.
Incorrect: Slide the product out of the rack.
See also device.
167Apple Style Guide
product names Follow the capitalization style of the official product name. Don’t shorten
or abbreviate product names.
• Names as verbs: Don’t use product names or trademarks as verbs: make a FaceTime call
to a friend, not FaceTime a friend; identify a song using Shazam, not Shazam a song.
• Plurals and possessives: Rewrite to avoid using plural or possessive forms of product
names that are trademarks: Mac computers, not Macs; check the storage on your iPad,
not check your iPad’s storage.
• Names with lowercase letters: If a product name starts with a lowercase letter, use
that capitalization style even at the beginning of sentences and in title-style headings:
iPhone Safety Features, not IPhone Safety Features; Set Up Your Mac mini, not Set Up
Your Mac Mini. In all-caps text, capitalize all the letters: THE NEW IPAD, not THE NEW
iPAD.
• Articles: In general references, don’t use the with the names of these hardware
products:
AirPods, AirPodsMax, AirPodsPro, AirTag, ApplePencil, AppleTV,
AppleVisionPro, AppleWatch, Apple Watch Ultra, HomePod,
HomePodmini, iMac, iPad, iPadAir, iPadmini, iPadPro, iPhone, Mac,
MacBook, MacBookAir, MacBookPro, Macmini, MacPro, MacStudio,
Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, ProDisplayXDR,
ProStand, StudioDisplay
It’s OK to use another article or a possessive adjective: on an iPhone with Face ID, to
set up your MacBook Pro. If you need to refer to a specific product, it’s OK to use the:
Select the iPad you want to use as a second display.
Guidelines for including the with product names apply to the name used alone, and not
necessarily to the name preceded by an adjective.
try out iPad Pro, try out the new iPad Pro
See also plurals; trademarks (usage); and entries for specific product names.
professional Don’t shorten to pro.
program See app, application, program.
progress indicator The generic term for an onscreen element that lets users know a
process is taking place.
In developer materials, use asynchronous progress indicator for the spinning gear,
determinate progress bar for the bar that has a fill that moves left to right, and
indeterminate progress bar for the spinning striped cylinder.
168Apple Style Guide
If you have to mention a progress indicator in user materials, use the generic term and
describe it.
A progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear) appears.
A progress indicator (a moving bar) shows the status of the download.
A progress indicator (a spinning striped cylinder) lets you know that a
process is taking place.
See also asynchronous progress indicator; determinate progress bar; indeterminate
progress bar; spinning wait cursor.
prompt (n., v., adj.) Avoid using prompt as a verb if you can simply tell users to do
something, or if you can use friendlier wording such as when asked or you may be asked.
Avoid: Double-click the side button, and then enter your passcode
when prompted.
Preferable: Double-click the side button, and then enter your passcode.
If you do use prompt, don’t make hardware or software the actor; instead, use passive
voice.
Correct: If you select Image, you’re prompted to select an image file.
Incorrect: If you select Image, the app prompts you to select an image
file.
It’s OK to use prompt as a noun or an adjective when referring to the prompt character in a
command-line interface.
At the prompt, enter resetpassword and press Return.
You can change the prompt character from a bracket to a flashing gray
bar.
pronouns When referring to individuals of unspecified gender, don’t use gender-specific
pronouns (he, his, him, she, her, hers) or combinations of gender-specific pronouns (he or
she, he/she, s/he). Instead, it’s OK to use they, their, or them as a singular, gender-neutral
pronoun.
Correct: A subscriber can post their recipes to your shared folder.
Incorrect: A subscriber can post his or her recipes to your shared folder.
They always takes a plural verb, even when used as a singular pronoun.
Each person keeps the items they purchase using the family organizer’s
account, even if the organizer stops Family Sharing.
You can also rewrite a sentence to avoid gender-specific pronouns. For example, you could
use the plural form of the noun (Subscribers can post their recipes to your shared folder),
or omit the pronoun altogether (A subscriber can post recipes to your shared folder).
See also Writing inclusively.
169Apple Style Guide
pronunciation If the pronunciation of an acronym isn’t self-evident, provide a
pronunciation key.
Use all caps for the stressed syllable; use a hyphen between syllables. Enclose the
phonetic spelling in quotation marks.
WYSIWYG (pronounced “WIZ-zee-wig”)
This style guide provides pronunciation keys for many acronyms. Don’t invent your own
pronunciation key unless this guide doesn’t show the pronunciation. Consult your editor.
propeller Use Command key, not propeller key, to refer to the key with the symbol. See
also Command key.
protocol When the word is part of the name of a protocol, capitalize Protocol.
Name Binding Protocol (NBP)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
When you use protocol as a generic term, use lowercase.
standard internet protocols
• Third-party products: When you refer to protocol names in third-party products,
capitalize according to the third-party company’s style.
• Articles: Use an article before the spelled-out name of the protocol. Don’t use an article
before the abbreviation when it stands alone.
The Name Binding Protocol resides at the transport layer of the
reference model.
A protocol like NBP resides at the transport layer of the reference
model.
pull-down (adj.) To refer to methods of converting film or video frame rates, use pulldown.
See also menus.
punctuation Punctuation marks should be in the same type style and font as the main
body text, except for punctuation that belongs to a title in a different font.
This address, called a vector, directs program control to a specified
destination. [The second comma isn’t italicized.]
See What is Motion? for more information. [The question mark is
italicized.]
Note the following:
• Punctuation in code font: Punctuation following code font in running text should be in
the font of the overall sentence, not in code font, unless the punctuation mark is part
of what actually appears on the screen or in the code listing. Avoid punctuation after
something the user should type. (The user may type the punctuation.)
• Parentheses, brackets, and quotation marks: Parentheses, brackets, and quotation
marks (“paired punctuation”) should be in the same style as the body text. For example,
the parentheses around an italicized word should be in plain style, not italics.
Read the manual (iPhone User Guide). [The parentheses aren’t
italicized.]
170Apple Style Guide
• Plurals: When you form the plural of an italicized letter used as a letter, a number used
as a number, or a word used as a word, don’t use italics for the apostrophe or the s.
Enter a series of D’s. [The apostrophe and s aren’t italicized.]
See also apostrophes; commas; dash (em); dash (en); ellipsis; hyphenation; quotation
marks.
push Don’t use to refer to the act of pressing a button or a key on a keyboard; use press.
See also press.
Don’t use push when discussing services (such as iCloud) that send content to devices
automatically; instead, say content appears automatically or is updated.
iCloud updates your photos on all your devices.
push notification In developer materials, use to refer to a notification that is generated
from a server and delivered to a device. Don’t use in user materials; use just notification.
Use lowercase for push notification except in proper names such as Apple Push
Notification service and Safari Push Notifications.
Developer materials: Your server generates push notifications, and
Apple Push Notification service (APNs) handles the delivery of those
notifications to devices.
User materials: You can allow websites to send you notifications.
pushpin One word.
put Don’t use when you mean drag.
Correct: Drag the file to the Trash.
Incorrect: Put the file in the Trash.
Q
quad Hyphenate compound adjectives beginning with quad.
quad-band, quad-channel, quad-core, quad-port
quality Don’t use quality alone as an adjective; include a modifier. The compound
adjective is hyphenated.
broadcast-quality, high-quality, professional-quality
question-mark button Don’t use; use Help button.
Quick Look Capitalize when you refer to the feature in macOS. Don’t use quick look as
a verb.
quick reference card No hyphen.
QuickTime Player Don’t precede with the.
Open QuickTime Player.
quit Use quit to refer to stopping an app from running completely. Don’t use exit, exit
from, or leave when you mean quit. See also close; force quit; interrupt; stop.
171Apple Style Guide
quotation marks Use curly opening and closing quotation marks except in code font. Don’t
use single or double quotation marks for units of measure; use the prime symbol for feet
(Option-Shift-E) and the double prime symbol for inches (Option-Shift-G).
• With periods and commas: Put periods and commas within quotation marks. If
necessary for clarity, periods and commas can go outside, as in AN$ = "1".
• With other punctuation: Semicolons, colons, question marks, and exclamation points go
outside quotation marks unless they’re part of an actual quotation.
• Four-character identifiers: When you give the name of four-character identifiers such as
file types, use straight, single quotation marks in code font and place any punctuation
outside the quotation marks.
Examples of file types are 'TEXT', 'PICT', and 'APPL'.
• Terminology: Use quotation marks, not quote marks or quotes. (Quote is a verb;
quotation is a noun or an adjective.)
• Cross-references and quotations: Cross-references to sections and chapter titles
are traditionally set off in quotation marks (unless they are hyperlinks); follow your
department’s style. Use quotation marks for direct quotations.
• Onscreen messages: Enclose quotations from the screen, such as alert messages, in
quotation marks.
• Terms that stand for or define other terms: Use italics, not quotation marks, for terms
after called, known as, labeled, stands for, termed, and so on. Use plain style for
onscreen elements whose names are in title-style capitalization.
A folder called My Files appears.
• Text the user types: Use quotation marks or code font to represent what the user
actually types, depending on your department’s style guidelines.
For example, type “dog” in the search field to find photos of dogs.
In the Title field, type Exchange Rate per $1.
• Sentence-style onscreen elements: Use quotation marks for elements whose names use
sentence-style capitalization.
Select the checkbox labeled “Keep lines together.”
Search for “Apps for college.”
• Title-style onscreen elements: For title-style elements, use quotation marks only if
there’s a significant chance the name could be misread in context.
Tap Use as Wallpaper.
To store media outside the library, click the Media pop-up menu, choose
“Choose,” and then select a storage location.
• Smart quotation marks: Most apps have an option called “smart” quotation marks, which
automatically generates curly quotation marks (and apostrophes) as you type.
See also italics (n.), italic (adj.); titles of works.
172Apple Style Guide
R
racism, racist language See Writing inclusively.
radio button A labeled circular button used to present a set of mutually exclusive options.
Users select an option. Avoid the term radio button, except in developer materials. You can
refer to the option’s label, or to the label used to introduce a group of radio buttons.
Select “Automatically based on mouse or trackpad.”
In the “Show scroll bars” area, select “When scrolling.”
To change the location of the Dock, select an option next to “Position
on screen.”
See also checkbox.
radio-frequency interference See RFI.
RAID Acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, a storage method in which data
is distributed among two or more hard disk drives to improve performance and reliability.
Storage methods are called levels: RAID level 0, RAID level 1, RAID level 0+1, and so on.
OK to shorten to RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and so on. For guidelines about spelling out
acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Raise to Speak Note capitalization. An Apple Watch feature.
When Raise to Speak is on, you can raise your wrist and speak your
request.
Raise to Wake Note capitalization. An iPhone feature.
When Raise to Wake is on, you can wake your iPhone by raising it.
RAM Acronym for random-access memory. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms,
see abbreviations and acronyms.
random-access memory See RAM.
RAW A format for image files. Use all caps even though RAW is not an acronym. Don’t use
RAW alone; use RAW file, RAW image, RAW setting, and so on.
When you take photos using your camera’s RAW setting, the camera
creates a RAW file that retains all the image data captured by the
camera.
173Apple Style Guide
ray tracing (n.), ray-tracing (adj.), ray-traced (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective forms.
Ray tracing models the properties of light as it interacts with a scene.
Learn how to optimize ray-tracing performance.
Implement ray-traced rendering using GPU-based parallel processing.
re (prefix) Close up unless the resulting word creates another word.
reenter, reinstall, reevaluate
re-create (recreate), re-sort (resort)
Reader Always capitalize when referring to the Safari feature. Don’t precede with the.
You can use Reader to view articles without distracting ads.
Reading List Always capitalize when referring to the Safari feature. Refer to the user’s
Reading List as your Reading List.
You can add webpages to your Reading List.
Read Me A document that accompanies a product and contains information the user
needs to read before installing or using the product.
In user materials, don’t call such documents the Read Me or Read Me file. Instead, use
the document’s name enclosed in quotation marks. Call a file “Read Me” only if that’s the
actual filename.
read-only memory See ROM.
read/write (adj.) Note slash, as in read/write memory.
real time (n.), real-time (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective. Don’t use realtime.
Correct: You can edit multicamera footage in real time.
Correct: You can group unrelated clips together for real-time montage
editing.
Incorrect: Many transitions can play back in real-time.
receipt A written acknowledgment by a receiver of money that payment or delivery has
been made. If payment has already been made, use receipt and not invoice. See also
invoice.
recommend When describing something users are encouraged to do, don’t use we
recommend or Apple recommends; use recommended.
Correct: It’s recommended that you import video using the same
camera you used to record it.
Incorrect: We recommend that you import video using the same camera
you used to record it.
You can also use less formal phrases like it’s a good idea to.
It’s a good idea to create a password hint.
174Apple Style Guide
recovery mode (n., adj.) Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
To put your device in recovery mode…
Wait until you see the recovery mode screen, and then…
redownload Don’t use; use download again. See also download (n., v.), downloadable
(adj.).
Reduce Interruptions An Apple Intelligence feature. You can use the Reduce Interruptions
Focus or simply Reduce Interruptions.
You can customize the Reduce Interruptions Focus the same way you
would any other Focus.
Reduce Interruptions understands the content of your notifications and
shows you the most important ones.
See also Focus.
Redundant Array of Independent Disks See RAID.
reference Don’t use as a verb; use refer to.
register Capitalize names of specific registers, but don’t capitalize the word register.
Don’t capitalize generic register names such as floating-point registers and vector
registers.
regular Don’t use when you mean standard, as in Use standard settings.
release Refers to the issuing of software, as in a major release of iOS. Don’t use when
referring to a macOS version number.
Correct: The next major release of macOS will be available later this
year.
Incorrect: The 14.5 release of macOS will be available later this year.
See also version number.
reminder, Reminders Use lowercase to refer to a reminder the user creates. Use
uppercase to refer to the app.
Type a name for the reminder.
Use the Reminders app to stay organized.
Refer to a list of reminders as a reminder list.
You can share a reminder list with other iCloud users.
representative Don’t use to refer to an AppleCare Support person. See also advisor,
Advisor.
reset (v., adj.) Don’t use reset as a noun. See also Reset.
Reset The button or switch, which may be labeled with the word Reset or with a triangle
symbol.
resizable Not resizeable.
resize Not size or grow. OK to use change the size of.
175Apple Style Guide
resize control The area in the lower-right corner of a window that users drag to resize the
window.
resolution Use a lowercase letter x (not the word by) to express screen or other resolution
(640x480). See also dimensions; x.
restart (v.) Don’t use as a noun.
restore (v., adj.) Don’t use as a noun.
Correct: Avoid stopping the restore process.
Incorrect: Avoid stopping a restore in progress.
Correct: Restoring stopped because the disk is full.
Incorrect: The restore stopped because the disk is full.
return character Not carriage return character, except in developer materials when you’re
referring to ASCII character 0D.
Return key Capitalize when you refer to the key on the keyboard. Use lowercase when you
refer to the character.
When you press Return, you generate a return character.
RFI Abbreviation for radio-frequency interference. Note hyphenation of the spelled-out
version. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Rich Text Format See RTF.
right arrow Use to refer to a button that looks like a right arrow and lets users navigate
horizontally through content, such as a category of TV shows in the Apple TV app.
Don’t call it the right arrow button or the right-pointing arrow.
Click the right arrow to view more episodes.
Don’t use when you mean Forward button.
See also disclosure arrow; Forward button; Right Arrow key.
Right Arrow key When you refer to arrow keys generically, use lowercase, but capitalize
and use the complete name when you refer to one or more arrow keys by name. See also
arrow keys.
right-click (v.) For Windows only, use to refer to clicking the secondary (usually the right)
mouse button. For Mac, use Control-click instead.
Windows: Right-click the app icon to open a shortcut menu.
Mac: Control-click the app icon to open a shortcut menu.
See also Control-click (v.).
176Apple Style Guide
right-hand Avoid except in reference to right-hand (recto) pages; use just right whenever
possible.
rightmost No hyphen.
right side Not right-hand side.
Ring/Silent switch Note capitalization.
ringtone One word.
road map Two words.
ROM Acronym for read-only memory. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
roman, Roman (adj.) Use lowercase when you refer to numerals and to font style.
Capitalize when you refer to the term Standard Roman character set. See also arabic,
Arabic (adj.).
root The top-level folder in a file system. In pathnames, the root of the file system is
designated by a leading slash (/). Avoid using root as a synonym for System Administrator.
See also pathnames; System Administrator.
root user See System Administrator.
rotate Refers to the act of placing two fingers slightly apart on a touchscreen or trackpad
and twisting them clockwise or counterclockwise.
Rotate to change the photo’s orientation.
Don’t use to refer to turning the Digital Crown; use turn.
See also gestures.
rotor A navigation tool in VoiceOver. In materials that refer to more than one rotor, use
a rotor’s full name on first mention: VoiceOver rotor, gestures rotor, Quick Nav rotor,
Verbosity rotor. On subsequent mentions, it’s OK to shorten to the rotor if it’s clear which
rotor you’re referring to.
router Don’t use interchangeably with bridge. A bridge joins two networks to form an
expanded network, not an internet. A router maintains a logical map of the networks and
other routers in an internet, allowing the networks to retain separate identities.
RSS Abbreviation for Really Simple Syndication. A format for displaying the latest changes
to websites and blogs. Users access these RSS feeds with an RSS reader. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
RTF Abbreviation for Rich Text Format. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
rule An editable action in Mail.
rule of thumb Avoid; use general rule, general recommendation, guideline, or as a rule.
run (v.), running (adj.) Use running for programs or processes that operate in the
background and have no graphical interface.
Open Activity Monitor to see what processes are running.
177Apple Style Guide
• Apps: Don’t use run to describe what a user does with an app (a program that has a
graphical interface); say use instead.
Correct: Before installing the software, use Disk Utility to verify your
disk.
Incorrect: Before installing the software, run Disk Utility.
Don’t use running to refer to an open app; use open.
Correct: Check to see whether any apps are open.
Incorrect: Check to see whether any apps are running.
• Software versions: In user materials, avoid using running to refer to versions of the
operating system or apps. Instead, use alternatives such as use, using, or installed. In
server materials or materials for more technical users, it’s OK to use running to refer to
versions of the operating system or apps.
Correct: If you’re using iOS 12 or earlier, follow these instructions.
Incorrect: If you’re running iOS 12 or earlier, follow these instructions.
Correct: To use Siri on your Mac, you must have macOS 10.12 or later
installed.
Incorrect: To use Siri on your Mac, you must be running macOS 10.12 or
later.
runtime (n., adj.) One word.
S
safe mode Note lowercase.
sample rate The number of times per second an audio file is sampled. Don’t use
sampling rate.
SAN Acronym for storage area network. Precede with a, not an. For guidelines about
spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
sanity check, sanity test Don’t use; use an alternative such as consistency check, logic
check, final check, or final pass.
Correct: A consistency check can help confirm that software is
behaving as expected.
Incorrect: A sanity check can help confirm that software is behaving as
expected.
sans serif (adj.) Two words.
SATA See Serial ATA.
save You save a file on a disk or to a disk, not onto a disk.
scalable, scalability Not scaleable, scaleability.
178Apple Style Guide
screen Use to refer to what the user looks at while working on a computer or mobile
device. Don’t use when you mean display. The display is the hardware component that
contains the screen; the screen is the surface the user views.
Correct: Use screen sharing to show others what’s on your screen.
Incorrect: Use screen sharing to show others what’s on your display.
Correct: Position the display to minimize reflections and glare on your
screen.
Don’t use screen to refer to what a person sees while wearing AppleVisionPro; use view.
See also display (n.); view.
screen saver (n., adj.) Two words.
screen sharing (n.), screen-sharing (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
screenshot (n., adj.) One word.
script system When appropriate, refer to a script system by its product name, which may
or may not include the words script system. Don’t capitalize generic references to types of
script systems.
KanjiTalk is Apple’s version of the Japanese script system.
The Roman Script System is available on all Mac computers.
scroll Avoid using as a transitive verb.
Correct: Scroll through a document.
Correct: Scroll to view more of the document.
Incorrect: Scroll a document.
In user materials, when describing the act of moving through documents, webpages,
groups of options, and other items, it’s often preferable to use scroll instead of specific
actions and gestures such as drag or swipe.
Acceptable: Drag up or down to scroll through the songs in the list until
you find the one you want.
Preferable: Scroll through the songs in the list until you find the one you
want.
See also gestures.
scroll bar The whole control is the scroll bar. In macOS, the control that users drag is the
scroller.
scroller The control users drag in the scroll bar. See also scroll bar.
SD Abbreviation for standard definition (n.) and standard-definition (adj.). For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
179Apple Style Guide
SDH Short for subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. Define on first mention.
Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) differ from closed
captions in several ways.
Use SDH when referring to the technology.
You’ll find SDH on more media types than closed captioning.
Use SDH subtitles when you’re referring to the titles themselves.
SDH subtitles and closed captions are encoded differently.
See also closed captions (n.), closed captioning (n., adj.), closed-captioned (adj.).
SDK Abbreviation for software development kit. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
SDR (n., adj.) Abbreviation for standard dynamic range (n.) and standard-dynamic-range
(adj.). A legacy video or still-image format with limited levels of brightness per color
component.
See also HDR (n., adj.).
SDRAM Abbreviation for synchronous dynamic random-access memory. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
search field Note lowercase.
seasons Because content may be viewed by a global audience, avoid referring to times of
the year using the names of seasons.
Preferable: coming later this year, starting early next year
Avoid: coming this fall, starting this spring
secondary cache, second-level cache Don’t use; use level 2 cache or L2 cache.
Secure Element, Secure Enclave The Secure Element is a chip in an Apple device that
securely stores confidential data such as payment information. The Secure Enclave is a
system on a chip (SoC) that stores private keys and is isolated from the main processor to
provide an extra layer of security. It processes data from Touch ID, Face ID, and Optic ID
sensors, and then allows access or purchases on behalf of the user.
The Secure Element hosts an applet to manage Apple Pay and also
includes payment applets certified by the payment networks.
On iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, the Secure Enclave manages the
authentication process and allows a payment transaction to proceed.
See also system on a chip (n.), system-on-chip (adj.).
select (adj.) OK to use select to mean special or exclusive.
Select Apple Store locations offer coding sessions for coders of all
ages.
180Apple Style Guide
select (v.) Use select, not choose, to refer to the action users perform when they select
among multiple objects—such as icons, graphic images, radio buttons, or checkboxes—or
when they highlight text for editing.
Select a name in the list.
To select several files at once, Command-click them.
Select the text you want to make bold.
Select the Shadow checkbox.
• Selecting objects: Although users generally click or tap to select objects (they can also
use the keyboard), you need to use the complete phrase click to select or tap to select
only if you think there’s potential for confusion. Both of the following examples are
acceptable.
Click to select a name in the list.
Select a name in the list.
• Interface items: Although it’s usually clearest to include an item’s name (if it has one)
and type of item (such as a checkbox), you can also refer to an item as an option or use
only the item’s name.
Select the option “Object causes wrap.”
To position the Dock on your screen, select Left, Bottom, or Right.
Use choose for menu items, including those in pop-up and shortcut menus.
See also checkbox; choose; click; deselect; highlight (v.); menus; unselected (adj.).
selection rectangle The rectangular outline that appears when users drag across items on
the screen to select them. Often, you can simply say drag to select.
Drag a selection rectangle around the clips you want to add to your
project.
Drag to select the clips you want to add to your project.
self Use a hyphen in terms beginning with self.
self-paced, self-playing, self-running, self-service
self-powered See bus-powered, self-powered.
self-test (n., adj.) Don’t use as a verb.
sentence-style capitalization Capitalize only the first letter of the first word, proper
nouns, and proper adjectives. See also capitalization.
Serial ATA A hardware interface that connects a computer to network or storage devices.
Short for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. OK to use the acronym SATA (precede
with a, not an) if space is limited, but spell out as Serial ATA whenever possible. See also
hard disk (n., adj.).
181Apple Style Guide
server A computer or device (or the software on it) that’s on a network and manages the
network’s resources. Types of servers include the following:
application server, database server, file server, HTTP server, mail server,
network server, print server, streaming server, web server
service manual Note lowercase.
settings, Settings Use lowercase when referring generically to settings. Capitalize when
referring to the app on some Apple devices.
You can change settings for your iPhone using the Settings app.
When discussing System Settings (in macOS 13 and later), you can shorten the name of
each set of system settings to [settings name]settings, as in Accessibility settings (note
lowercase settings).
Use Sound settings to select the device you want to use for sound
output.
However, always capitalize the name System Settings.
Use System Settings to change settings for your Mac.
When discussing app settings in macOS 13 and later, use lowercase settings.
Use the Privacy pane of Safari settings to block website cookies.
See also preferences; System Preferences.
Setup Assistant Capitalize when you refer to an app that helps users configure the system
or software; use lowercase for generic references. Don’t use the before Setup Assistant.
You must have an AirPort Extreme Card installed in your computer to
use AirPortSetupAssistant.
Apple Remote Desktop provides an easy-to-use setup assistant to
guide you through the process.
See also Assistant.
setup (n., adj.), set up (v.) One word except as a verb.
sexism, sexist language See Writing inclusively.
Shared Albums An iCloud feature that allows users to share photo albums with other
iCloud users. Note capitalization; don’t use iCloud Photo Sharing, Shared iCloud Albums, or
similar. You turn on or turn off Shared Albums. Use shared album to refer generically to an
album that’s shared using Shared Albums. See also iCloud.
shared disk In user materials, use shared disk when you discuss connecting to another
computer over the network. When you discuss setting up a folder to share on your own
computer, use shared folder. Use file server only when explaining the concept of file
servers.
shared folder In user materials, use shared folder when you discuss setting up a folder
to share on the user’s computer. Use shared disk when you discuss connecting to another
computer over the network. See also shared disk.
182Apple Style Guide
SharePlay Don’t use as a verb.
Correct: Watch together using SharePlay on Apple TV.
Incorrect: SharePlay a movie on Apple TV.
Use join instead of access.
Correct: To join SharePlay on Apple TV, tap the Play button.
Incorrect: To access SharePlay on Apple TV, tap the Play button.
In user materials, avoid using session. (It’s OK to use session in developer materials.)
Avoid: Tap the Play button to start the SharePlay session.
Preferable: Tap the Play button to start the video.
You can use sync or synced to describe the experience of watching videos or listening to
music together.
Everyone’s playback is synced—so you and your friends…
share, send In user materials, use share to refer to giving ongoing access to a resource
or making it available to someone else—for example, sharing a Pages document, an App
Store purchase, your location, or your internet connection. Use send to refer to a one-time
action that transmits a static copy of something—for example, sending a file using Mail or
Messages.
Correct: Share your document with colleagues so you can make edits
together in real time.
Incorrect: Send your document to colleagues so you can make edits
together in real time.
Correct: Use AirDrop to send a document to someone nearby.
Incorrect: Use AirDrop to share a document with someone nearby.
It’s OK to use share to refer broadly to distributing items to others.
You can share your photos with friends using Mail, Messages, AirDrop,
and more.
In developer materials, you can use share sheet to refer to a sheet that presents tasks that
may include sending (for example, sending a file using email). See also share sheet.
share sheet Note capitalization. In most user materials, avoid using share sheet; instead,
describe what the user must select or do.
Correct: Tap , and then tap Messages.
Incorrect: Tap , and then tap Messages in the share sheet.
It’s OK to use share sheet in developer materials and user materials that describe making
changes to the options in the share sheet.
To allow a shortcut to run from within other apps, you must enable it to
appear in the share sheet.
See also action sheet; sheet.
183Apple Style Guide
sheet In macOS, refers to a dialog that’s attached to a specific window—usually a
document—and prevents further interaction with the window until the sheet is dismissed.
In user materials, call a sheet a dialog (sheet is used mainly in developer materials).
User materials: Use the Print dialog to choose a printer and select print
options.
Developer materials: When the user responds to a sheet and another
sheet for that document opens, the first sheet must close before the
second one opens.
See also action sheet; share sheet.
Shift-click (v.) Equivalent to press the Shift key while you click.
To include another item in the selection, Shift-click the item.
See also key, keys.
Shift-drag (v.) Equivalent to press and hold the Shift key while you drag.
Shift-drag a selection rectangle over selected points.
See also key, keys.
Shift key Note capitalization.
Shift lock Don’t use; use Caps Lock.
shortcut One word. See also keyboard shortcut; Siri Shortcuts.
shortcut menu See menus.
shows up Don’t use; use appears. OK to use show when referring to showing and hiding
onscreen elements.
The Portrait Lighting slider appears below the frame.
To show a hidden photo, choose View > Hidden Photos.
shuffle Lowercase except in the names of interface elements: shuffle your songs, click
Shuffle to mix up your music.
shutdown (n., adj.), shut down (v.) One word except as a verb.
184Apple Style Guide
sidebar Use to refer to a column in a Finder window or an app window that shows items
such as available disks and other devices, mailboxes, playlists, or favorite items.
side button Use to refer to the button on the right side of iPhone or next to the Digital
Crown on Apple Watch.
Press the side button on Apple Watch to open Control Center.
To turn off iPhone, press and hold the side button and either volume
button.
Use press to mean pressing the side button once; use double-click or triple-click to mean
pressing it more than once.
Sidecar The feature for using iPad as a second display with a Mac. Don’t precede with the.
Sidecar lets you extend your workspace by using your iPad as a second
display.
sighted To refer to a person with sight, you can say a person who is sighted, a sighted
person, a person with sight. See also blind, low vision; Writing about disability.
sign Use sign, not symbol, in the following terms: division sign, equal sign, greater-than
sign, less-than sign, minus sign, multiplication sign, number sign, and plus sign.
signaled, signaling Not signalled, signalling.
sign-in (n., adj.), sign in (v.) Use to refer to creating a session for an internet account.
Users sign in to accounts and services; computers, devices, and apps do not. Use sign in
to, not sign into.
Correct: Sign in to your Apple Account to get access to Apple services.
Incorrect: Your Mac must be signed in to your Apple Account to get
access to Apple services.
Users sign out of accounts and services (not sign off, sign off of, or sign off from).
See also login (n., adj.), log in (v.).
Sign in with Apple Note capitalization. The feature that lets users sign in to apps and
websites securely using their Apple Account. The word in is lowercase in both the name of
the service and the label on the Sign in with Apple button.
Sign in with Apple is the fast, easy way to sign in to apps and websites.
When you visit a participating website, tap Sign in with Apple.
sign-on (n., adj.), sign on (v.) No hyphen in verb. Note hyphenation in phrases such as
single sign-on authentication.
SIM Acronym for Subscriber Identity Module, a smart card that holds subscriber
information and settings. Precede with a, not an. OK to use SIM or SIM card. SIM formats
include micro-SIM and nano-SIM. Related terms include Apple SIM, embedded Apple SIM,
Dual SIM, and eSIM.
iPhone models with Dual SIM have an eSIM and a nano-SIM card.
Your iPad might use an embedded Apple SIM, an Apple SIM card in the
SIM-card tray, or a SIM card from a wireless carrier.
185Apple Style Guide
SIMM Acronym for single inline memory module. No hyphen in the spelled-out version. For
guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol See SMTP.
since, because Use since to mean during the period subsequent to the time when. Use
because to mean for the reason that.
Correct: It’s been five hours since you checked your email.
Correct: Because you made a backup copy, you didn’t lose your work.
Incorrect: Since you made a backup copy, you didn’t lose your work.
single Hyphenate compound adjectives beginning with single.
single-button, single-core, single-layer, single-precision, single-
processor
single inline memory module See SIMM.
single sign-on (n., adj.) A service that permits a user to access multiple apps using a
single ID and password.
For a list of TV providers that support single sign-on, see…
AppleTV offers single sign-on authentication for users of some apps.
See also sign-in (n., adj.), sign in (v.).
Siri The voice-activated assistant.
Don’t refer to Siri as she or her; always say Siri. If that means repeating Siri too often, you
can occasionally refer to Siri as it. Users can summon Siri,ask Siri, or make requests; users
don’t open Siri.
Avoid using Hey Siri as a feature name; in most cases just tell users how to use it.
Avoid: You can use Hey Siri to schedule a meeting.
Preferable: To use Siri without pressing the Home button, say “Hey Siri,”
and then make your request.
Siri Remote Use to refer to the remote control that’s compatible with AppleTV HD and
Apple TV 4K. In countries or regions where Siri isn’t available for use with AppleTV, use
AppleTV Remote instead.
Use the Touch surface on the Siri Remote to set up your AppleTV.
To activate Siri, press and hold the Siri button on the Siri Remote.
See also AppleTV Remote; Touch surface.
Siri Shortcuts When you refer to the feature, capitalize Shortcuts and use an s at the end.
Siri Shortcuts takes a plural verb.
Correct: Siri Shortcuts provide a quick way to get things done.
Incorrect: You can use Siri shortcuts to do everyday tasks.
186Apple Style Guide
When referring generally to individual shortcuts, use lowercase shortcut and omit Siri.
Correct: Create a shortcut that plays your favorite podcast on the drive
home.
Incorrect: Create a Siri Shortcut that plays your favorite podcast on the
drive home.
Siri Suggestions When you refer to the feature, capitalize Suggestions and use an s at the
end. Siri Suggestions takes a plural verb.
Correct: Siri Suggestions give you help right when you need it.
Incorrect: You can view Siri suggestions on your watch face.
When referring generally to individual suggestions, use lowercase suggestion and omit Siri.
Correct: To use a suggestion, tap it on the Lock Screen.
Incorrect: To use a Siri Suggestion, tap it on the Lock Screen.
site license, site licensing (n., adj.) No hyphen.
size (adj.) Hyphenate compound words ending with size. Not sized.
letter-size, medium-size, pocket-size
size (v.) Don’t use; use resize or change the size of (in reference to a window or an
object).
slash Use slash to describe this character: /. See also backslash.
slave Don’t use to refer to a device or process. See also master/slave.
sleep An energy-saving feature of some computers. The computer goes to sleep (or the
user can put it to sleep); the computer is then in sleep or in sleep mode. Don’t use the
computer is sleeping or the computer is asleep.
slide (v.) Avoid when describing how users operate a slider or switch. Use tap, click, or
drag instead.
Correct: To increase or decrease the effect, drag the slider.
Incorrect: To increase or decrease the effect, slide the slider.
Correct: Tap the switch to turn Airplane Mode on or off.
Incorrect: Slide the switch to turn Airplane Mode on or off.
It’s OK to use other meanings of slide, in other contexts.
To slide smoothly between notes (called portamento), tap Pitch.
The second app slides in from the right edge of the iPad screen.
See also slider; switch (n.).
187Apple Style Guide
slider The object users drag to set a value on a continuum (a range of values). The whole
control is called the slider control.
Depending on the context, users may click, tap, or drag a slider. Avoid using the verb slide
with slider.
Correct: Tap the slider, and then swipe up or down with one finger.
Correct: To adjust the magnification, drag the Zoom Level slider.
Incorrect: Slide the slider, and then swipe up or down with one finger.
See also slide (v.).
slideshow One word.
slot A long, thin socket on the main logic board where peripheral cards are inserted. Don’t
use connector to refer to a slot. Use lowercase for slot when it’s followed by a number
(slot1, slot2). See also connector; jack; port; socket.
slot-loading (adj.) Not slot-load. See also tray-loading (adj.).
small outline dual inline memory module See SO-DIMM.
Smart When you refer to items that are updated automatically based on search criteria the
user selects, capitalize both the word Smart and the noun it modifies: Smart Album, Smart
Collection, Smart Folder, Smart Group, Smart Mailbox, Smart Playlist.
smart card Note lowercase.
smartphone One word.
Smart Reply An Apple Intelligence feature. You can use Smart Reply to refer to the feature
or to an individual reply someone sends.
In the Mail app, Smart Reply provides suggestions for a quick response
to an email.
Tap a Smart Reply to quickly draft an email response.
Smart Stack Precede the singular form with a.
You can swipe through a Smart Stack to see the widgets in it.
To use Smart Stacks, you need to be using iPadOS 14 or later.
smart TV Note capitalization. Use to refer generically to TVs with integrated network
connectivity and streaming capabilities.
See a list of smart TVs that support the AppleTV app.
See also streaming device, streaming player.
smiley Don’t use on its own in place of emoji or emoticon. It’s OK to use smiley or smiley
face to describe a particular emoji or emoticon.
You can type a text message to include with your photos—and even
include an emoji, such as a smiley face.
See also emoji; emoticon.
188Apple Style Guide
SMTP Abbreviation for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
snapshot OK to use as a synonym for photo, but avoid using snapshot to refer generally to
a user’s photos. Snapshot connotes a photo taken quickly and informally, without attention
to lighting or composition. See also photo.
so-called (adj.) Don’t italicize or use quotation marks around terms following so-called.
social media (pl. n., adj.) Websites and apps through which people share links and
content, such as messages, photos, videos, blog postings, and more. When possible, name
specific apps instead of using the general term social media. Users post to, share on, or
publish to most social media networks.
You can publish videos to Facebook.
Post photos from your library to sites such as Instagram.
Set up email and social media accounts.
socket Use to refer to a receptacle with holes that receives a plug or another connector.
Don’t use female connector. See also connector; jack; port; slot.
SO-DIMM Acronym for small outline dual inline memory module. Note hyphenation of the
acronym. For guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
soft copy Avoid; use a term such as file or electronic document.
softcover One word.
software Programs that perform operations on a computer. Types of software include
application (or app) software and system software. Use software alone if you don’t need to
refer to a specific type of software. Don’t use software program.
Apple periodically releases updates to your computer’s software.
See also app, application, program; system software.
software development kit See SDK.
software license agreement Not software licensing agreement.
software version numbers See version number.
solid-state drive See SSD.
sound input, sound input/output, sound output (n., adj.) Avoid unless it appears in the
user interface. Use audio input, and so on, instead. See also audio input, audio input/
output, audio output (n., adj.).
soundtrack One word.
source code Two words.
source file Two words.
Space bar Two words.
space character Not blank or blank character. OK to use just space, but in many cases
it’s necessary to remind the user that a space is actually a character and that margins,
indentation, word wrap, and page breaks can sometimes be affected by extra space
characters (or a lack of them).
189Apple Style Guide
Spaces Capitalize only when explicitly referring to the feature.
You can use Spaces to organize your windows into groups and reduce
clutter.
Use Mission Control to add and delete desktop spaces.
spam Refers to unwanted electronic messages, often sent in bulk, by a bot or another
unknown sender. Spam—which can contain hostile elements such as malware—appears not
only in email but also in instant messaging, social media, newsgroups, and other systems.
The Mail app and iCloud Mail use junk mail, not spam, to refer to all unwanted mail. It’s OK
to use spam to help define junk mail.
When you receive unwanted mail (known as junk mail or spam), select it
and choose Message> Mark>As JunkMail.
Don’t use spam as a verb. See also junk mail (n., adj.).
Spatial Audio Capitalize the name of the Apple feature.
Spatial Audio is available only on Mac with Apple silicon.
Find music that’s made for Spatial Audio.
spatial photo, spatial video Use to refer to 3D images captured on AppleVisionPro and
some iPhone models. You can also use spatial capture.
S/PDIF Acronym for Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format. Don’t use S/P-DIF. The acronym
is pronounced “spid-iff,” so it’s preceded by a, not an. For guidelines about spelling out
acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
speakerphone One word.
special effects (n., adj.) No hyphen.
speed For the speed of optical drives, use a lowercase x—for example, 24x speed. Note
that there’s no space between the numeral and the x.
spell-check (v.) Also OK to use check the spelling of a document.
spell checker, spelling checker Either term is OK.
spin down (v.) Avoid using. Use stop spinning instead. OK for use in service-related
publications.
spinning gear See progress indicator.
spinning wait cursor In developer materials, the colored pinwheel cursor. In user
materials, use wait cursor.
Developer materials: Try to avoid situations in your app that cause the
window server to display the spinning wait cursor.
User materials: You might see a wait cursor (looks like a colored
pinwheel) while the app is opening.
splash screen Don’t use; use opening display, startup display, or startup screen.
190Apple Style Guide
Split View Note capitalization. The feature for viewing two apps or windows side by side
on a Mac or iPad. In most cases, say that users do things in Split View; they don’t use
Split View.
Avoid: You can use Split View to view two apps side by side.
Preferable: You can view two apps side by side in Split View.
Spotlight The search feature. Related terms include the following:
• Spotlight icon: In the menu bar in macOS
• search field: The area where users enter search terms
• Spotlight window: Shows the results list (on the left) and a preview (on the right)
SSD Abbreviation for solid-state drive. Precede with an, not a. It’s OK to use SSD alone
or in terms such as SSD storage; don’t use SSD drive. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms. See also disk; drive; hard disk (n., adj.);
hard drive.
Stacks The macOS feature that automatically groups files on the desktop and gives you
quick access to folders in the Dock. Capitalize only when referring to the feature.
With the Stacks feature, you can easily organize the files on your
desktop.
You can change how stacks are grouped.
Files you download appear in the Downloads stack.
Stage Manager A feature for resizing windows, seeing overlapping windows in a single
view, and switching between apps. You turn on or turn off Stage Manager; you don’t enter
or leave it. You work with apps and windows in Stage Manager.
You can turn on Stage Manager in the Settings app.
Group apps together in Stage Manager.
standalone (adj.) Don’t use as a noun.
standard definition (n.), standard-definition (adj.) See SD.
standard dynamic range (n.), standard-dynamic-range (adj.) See SDR (n., adj.).
Standard Roman character set Note capitalization.
standard user Use in macOS to describe a user whose account is more restrictive than
that of an administrator user. Don’t use normal user. See also administrator (adj.).
standby (n., adj.), stand by (v.) One word except as a verb.
start Don’t use when you mean open (as in open an app).
startup disk The preferred term in user materials.
Startup Disk Capitalize when referring to Startup Disk settings (in macOS 13 and later)
or Startup Disk preferences (in macOS 12 and earlier); use lowercase when referring
generically to a user’s startup disk.
191Apple Style Guide
startup display, startup screen Not splash screen. Startup display, startup screen, and
opening display are all OK.
startup sound Use to refer to the chord heard during a successful startup sequence.
Don’t use boot chime.
startup (n., adj.), start up (v.) In user materials, try to avoid using startup as a noun,
except when repeated occurrences of when you start up become unwieldy. Rewrite when
possible to use a more specific term or description.
For AppleCare and developer materials, startup is an acceptable generic term for the
period of time it takes the computer to start up.
Start up the computer.
After a few seconds, the startup display appears.
While the computer is starting up, you can check your voicemail.
AppleCare: During startup, you can scan the manual that came with
your computer.
See also boot.
statement Not necessarily the same as line. One line may contain several statements, and
one statement may extend over several lines.
stationery A feature of the Mail app in macOS.
step Don’t capitalize, even in specific references.
step 1, steps 1 and 2, several steps
stepper In developer materials, use to refer to a control that has up and down arrows, or
left and right arrows, to increase or decrease a value. Don’t use in user materials unless it’s
necessary to refer to the control itself; use up arrow, down arrow, right arrow, left arrow,
or arrows, as appropriate. For example, Click one of the arrows to increase or decrease the
volume.
stereotypes See Writing inclusively.
Stickies Don’t use to refer to the things you create using Stickies; use notes.
Sticky Keys Capitalize when you refer to the feature that can be set in Accessibility
settings in macOS.
still image (n.), still-image (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective. Use in video editing
or multimedia contexts to refer to a single static image, such as a photo, a title, or an
illustration.
You can import video, audio, and still-image files.
stop A general term meaning to cause a process, command, or program to cease. Don’t
use when you mean quit an app. See also exit; interrupt; quit.
192Apple Style Guide
storage Use storage space (or just space) to refer to the space used to store data and
information on a computer or device.
You can make more storage space available by deleting files you no
longer use.
If you’re running out of space, you can store files in iCloud Drive.
You can also use storage by itself, especially when discussing storage management, as in
the phrases Optimized Storage, buy more storage, and so on.
Optimized Storage suggests ways you can automatically free up space
on your Mac.
To upgrade your iCloud storage, click Buy More Storage.
See also memory.
storage device Use instead of disk to refer generally to computer storage devices that
might include hard disks, solid-state drives, and flash storage.
Correct: You can import photos from an external storage device.
Incorrect: You can import photos from an external disk.
When possible, use a more specific term.
stream (n., v.), streaming (n., adj.) Use to refer to watching or listening to media content
as it’s delivered to a device (instead of downloading it completely first).
This stream is best experienced on iPhone with iOS 15 or later, or iPad
with iPadOS 15 or later.
Use AirPlay to stream content from iPhone to Apple TV.
Activities like streaming and downloading large files can slow down a
network.
Apple TV+ is a streaming service featuring award-winning series,
documentaries, kids’ entertainment, and more.
Content can be streamed on demand (at any time) or in real time. You can use livestream to
refer to content that’s streamed in real time.
Watch the livestream of this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference,
or stream it on demand on Apple Podcasts.
See also livestream (n., v.), livestreaming (n.).
streaming device, streaming player Use either term to refer generically to digital media
players (such as Roku) that stream content over a network to a TV.
Open the Apple TV app on your smart TV or streaming device.
See also smart TV.
style (of type) Not typestyle or type style.
sub (prefix) Close up words beginning with sub.
subaccount, subdirectory, submenu, subnetwork
193Apple Style Guide
subdirectory In developer materials, can be used to refer to a directory within another
directory. In user materials, use folder. See also folder.
submenus Use when you describe hierarchical menus. When the user highlights a menu
item with a submenu indicator (which looks like a right arrow), a submenu appears.
To describe choosing an item from a submenu, use one of these styles:
Choose View > Sort By> Name.
Choose View > Sort By, and then choose an item from the submenu.
See also choose; menus.
super (prefix) Close up words beginning with super.
supercomputer, superfine, supermodern
SuperDrive Apple’s optical drive that reads and writes (burns) CDs and DVDs. SuperDrive
is typically preceded by an article (a or the) or a possessive adjective (such as your).
support Avoid in user materials when you can use compatible, works with, or another
appropriate word or phrase.
Avoid: The first-generation iPad didn’t support AirPlay Mirroring.
Preferable: AirPlay Mirroring works with iPad 2 or later.
Avoid: iMovie supports most QuickTime formats.
Preferable: You can use files in most QuickTime formats with iMovie.
It’s OK to use support to refer to a product or feature that Apple doesn’t provide but that
the user can obtain (for example, using software from other manufacturers). Avoid saying
Apple doesn’t support something.
Check the iMovie website for a list of supported camcorders.
See also Apple Support.
194Apple Style Guide
surround sound (n., adj.) Note lowercase; no hyphen.
Apple TV 4K lets you enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
Spatial Audio brings a theater-like surround sound experience to the
movies you watch.
It’s OK to use surround alone (deliver in both stereo and surround).
See also Dolby formats.
S-video Note hyphenation.
swipe (n., v.) On devices with touchscreens or trackpads, swipe refers to the
act of quickly sliding one or more fingers across the touchscreen or trackpad.
OnAppleVisionPro, swipe refers to the act of pinching your thumb and finger together
and quickly flicking your wrist.
Users swipe to navigate documents, webpages, and areas of the interface, and to browse
lists and groups of items. Include the direction of the swipe—up, down, left, or right—if it’s
needed to describe the action.
Tap the movie, and then swipe to choose a duration.
Swipe left to read the next story.
Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
You can use prepositions such as over and on to make it clear where to swipe.
Swipe over the selected text to highlight it.
To delete an email, swipe left on the email, and then tap Trash.
Swipe can take a direct object in cases where users must precisely move an item (such as
when closing an iOS app) instead of simply swiping anywhere in a general area (such as
when paging through a book).
In the app switcher, swipe an app up to close it.
To describe swiping with more than one finger, say, for example, swipe with two fingers (for
the verb form) or two-finger swipe (for the noun form).
Swipe up with three fingers to open Mission Control.
Use a three-finger swipe to rapidly page through documents.
See also drag; gestures.
switch (n.) An interface element that offers two mutually exclusive choices—usually on
and off (use lowercase for on and off, even if the control options are uppercase). It’s often
unnecessary to refer to the switch itself; instead, describe the action the user takes to
operate it.
Tap to turn on Location Services.
Tap to turn Airplane Mode on or off.
195Apple Style Guide
If you do need to refer to the switch (in order to specify its location, for example), avoid
using the verbs switch or slide with it; use tap or click instead.
Correct: To turn Airplane Mode on or off, tap the switch in the upper-
right corner.
Incorrect: To turn Airplane Mode on or off, slide the switch in the upper-
right corner.
See also switch (v.).
switch (v.) OK to use to mean change or substitute.
You can have more than one music library and switch between them.
The table includes key commands for switching modes and showing
inspectors.
Don’t use switch on or off or toggle to mean turn on or off.
Correct: You can turn the Accent setting on or off for each drum sound.
Incorrect: You can switch the Accent setting on or off for each drum
sound.
Incorrect: You can toggle the Accent setting for each drum sound.
See also slide (v.); switch (n.); toggle (v.).
switch on, switch off Don’t use switch on, switch off, power down, power off, power on,
or power up in user materials; use turn on and turn off. See also turn on, turn off.
symbol When referring to onscreen items, don’t use symbol when you mean button or
icon. A symbol signifies an idea or concept, but it doesn’t do anything when clicked or
tapped, and it doesn’t represent a single item (such as a file icon or a battery icon).
When referring to text characters, it’s OK to use symbol in a generic sense, as in the
percent symbol (%). Don’t use symbol when you mean character, letter, or digit.
Use sign, not symbol, in the following terms: division sign, equal sign, greater-than sign,
less-than sign, minus sign, multiplication sign, number sign, and plus sign.
See also button; icon.
synchronous dynamic random-access memory See SDRAM.
196Apple Style Guide
sync, synced, syncing Not synch, synched, or synching.
In general, syncing refers to copying content directly between two devices. You can use
sync to refer to syncing devices or the content that’s on them.
• Syncing devices: Use with (not from or to).
Correct: Sync iPhone with your Mac.
Incorrect: Sync iPhone to your Mac.
• Syncing content: Use to to specify the target, from to specify the source, or between if
information is synced both to and from each source.
You can sync contacts and calendars to iPad from your Mac.
Sync contacts between iPhone and your Mac.
You can also use sync to refer to transferring content between a device and iCloud.
Sync the photos and videos on your iPhone with iCloud.
When you get a new device, iCloud Photos quickly syncs your photo
library to it.
See also iCloud.
Don’t use synchronize or synchronization as alternative terms for sync or as an explanation
of the term sync.
Correct: Make sure syncing is turned on for the device.
Incorrect: Make sure synchronization is turned on for the device.
Although sync is most often used as a verb, it can also be used as a noun or an adjective.
You can also start a sync manually.
Avoid changing sync settings while iPhone is syncing.
system Don’t use system to refer to a computer by itself.
Correct: You must restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Incorrect: You must restart your system for the changes to take effect.
If you’re referring to a computer and its peripheral devices, accessories, and software, it’s
OK to use system.
For best results color correcting HDR video in FinalCutPro, use a
system with a ProDisplayXDR.
System Administrator Avoid, except when you’re referring to the macOS user account
identified as System Administrator (long name) and root (short name).
Anyone with access to the System Administrator account can obtain read-and-write
access to all settings and files on the system, including hidden system files that a regular
administrator user can’t modify. Each computer can have multiple administrator accounts
but only one System Administrator account.
197Apple Style Guide
Lowercase system administrator is an acceptable and frequently used variant of the noun
administrator.
To obtain a static IP address for your computer, contact your system
administrator or network administrator.
See also administrator (n.); administrator (adj.).
system files Refers to any files used by the computer to start up or to provide systemwide
information.
System folder Note lowercase f.
system on a chip (n.), system-on-chip (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective. It’s OK to
abbreviate as SoC; precede with an, not a. The plural form of the noun is systems on a chip
(SoCs).
M1 was the first system on a chip for the Mac.
The M2 family scales up Apple’s system-on-chip architecture.
For over a decade, Apple has been refining its systems on a chip
(SoCs).
See also Secure Element, Secure Enclave.
System Preferences The app for changing systemwide options in macOS 12 and earlier.
See also preferences; System Settings.
System Settings The app for changing systemwide options in macOS 13 and later. See
also preferences; settings, Settings.
system software Not systems software. See also app, application, program; version
number.
systemwide (adj.) One word.
T
tab You can use tab to refer to two different elements in the UI:
• A separate view of content a user can open in an app (such as Safari).
Use tab for the entire view—both the part that’s visible in the tab bar, and what users
see when they click or tap it.
You can open a webpage in a new tab.
Drag a tab out of the window to make it a separate window.
198Apple Style Guide
• A control at the bottom of the screen that lets users quickly switch between different
sections of an iOS app.
Use tab for the entire view—both the control at the bottom of the screen, and what
users see when they tap it.
The screenshot is added to the Photos tab in Photos.
In developer materials, use tab bar to refer to the entire group of tabs.
In user materials, don’t use tab to refer to a changeable area of content built into a window
in macOS; use pane. Use button for the control users click to see the pane (or simply refer
to the control by its label).
You can set the color of text in the Style pane.
To change the number of columns, click Layout.
In developer materials, use tab to refer to the control users click; use pane or view to refer
to the view users see when they click.
See also button; pane.
Tab key, tab character Capitalize when you refer to the key on the keyboard. Use
lowercase when you refer to the character.
When you press Tab, you generate a tab character.
The tab character (HT, for horizontal tab) has the ASCII value 09.
table captions Table captions include a table number and a table title. In developer
materials, most tables are numbered. In user materials, tables typically don’t have numbers
or titles.
When you use table titles, keep them short; don’t exceed a line and a half of text. Avoid
using complete sentences for table titles.
199Apple Style Guide
tables Use tables for information that would be easier to scan in columnar form than in
running text. Also use tables for “information matrixes,” which provide an effective way to
present quick-reference instructions or descriptions.
• Capitalization: Use sentence-style capitalization for all parts of a table, including the
column headings.
• Headings: Make column headings short and descriptive.
• In-text references: Provide in-text references to all tables. In general, place the
reference in the paragraph immediately preceding the table. In user materials, you can
use below to refer to a table that immediately follows the paragraph.
In-text references can stand alone as a complete sentence (with or without
parentheses) or can occur within a sentence (with or without parentheses). Use a
consistent style throughout a document.
The following table shows how the tools work and what they do.
The app provides several tools (see the following table).
See the table below for details.
If the table has a number, use it in the in-text reference.
Table 3-2 lists the signal and pin assignments for the DVI connector.
See Table 3-10 for additional result codes.
• Table notes and footnotes: Information that pertains to an entire table is generally set as
a table note, before any table footnotes.
The table note begins with the word Note (not all caps) followed by a colon. To make the
information in a table note more prominent than a note allows, you can add it instead
after the table title, in parentheses, with no capitalization or ending punctuation (even if
it’s a complete sentence).
When specific items in a table require footnotes, either number the items consecutively
starting with 1 or use the following symbols, in the order shown. Consult your
department’s guidelines for which style to use. (If you need more symbols, double them,
in the same order.)
asterisk (*)
dagger (†, Option-T)
double dagger (‡, Option-Shift-7)
section (§, Option-6)
paragraph (¶, Option-7)
number (#)
tap (n., v.) On devices with touchscreens or trackpads, tap refers to the act of quickly
touching and releasing the touchscreen or trackpad. Don’t use tap on.
Correct: Tap Return to move from one field to another.
Incorrect: Tap on the video you want to play.
200Apple Style Guide
Users can tap with one or more fingers (depending on the device and the action the user is
performing).
To zoom in or out, double-tap with two fingers.
On AppleVisionPro, tap refers to the act of briefly tapping your thumb and finger together.
See also pinch (v.).
When discussing the Digital Touch feature, don’t say that users tap another device or
person; they send a tap.
When discussing haptic feedback, don’t say that a device or trackpad taps you; say you
feel a tap.
See also click; Digital Touch; double tap (n.), double-tap (v.), double-tapping (n., v.);
gestures; haptic (adj.), haptics (n.); press; touch; touch and hold.
tap and hold Don’t use. Tap means to touch and release quickly, so use touch and hold
instead. See also tap (n., v.); touch and hold.
Tapback A feature in the Messages app. Don’t use as a verb.
taptic Don’t use. See also haptic (adj.), haptics (n.); tap (n., v.); Taptic Engine.
Taptic Engine Technology that provides haptic feedback in iOS devices and Apple Watch.
Precede with the. Don’t use the word taptic by itself; use only in the term Taptic Engine.
See also haptic (adj.), haptics (n.).
Tap to Wake Note capitalization. An iPhone feature.
To wake your iPhone by tapping the screen, turn on Tap to Wake.
target disk mode Note lowercase.
TB (n., adj.) Abbreviation for terabyte. TB equals 1000
4
bytes in the context of file size or
storage capacity, and 1024
4
bytes in the context of computer memory. For guidelines about
spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. The
preposition of is necessary before the unit that the value quantifies.
1 TB of memory
2 TB of storage capacity
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
a 1 TB memory card
a 2 TB Serial ATA hard drive
Tbit (n., adj.) Abbreviation for terabit. For guidelines about spelling out abbreviations, see
abbreviations and acronyms.
• Noun: In the noun form, use a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. The
preposition of is necessary before the unit that the value quantifies.
1 Tbit of line capacity
• Adjective: Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.
10 Tbit router
201Apple Style Guide
Tbit/s Standard international abbreviation for terabits per second. See also Names and
unit symbols for units of measure and abbreviations and acronyms.
TB/s Abbreviation for terabytes per second. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
TCP/IP Abbreviation for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
telecommunication Telecommunication refers to the act; telecommunications refers to the
field. When used as an adjective, the correct term is telecommunications.
Telecommunication gets simpler by the day, though you can’t prove it
by most manuals on this subject.
The telecommunications industry is expanding rapidly.
telephone numbers Use hyphens in U.S. phone and fax numbers; don’t use parentheses
or a leading 1. Use toll-free number, not 800 number. For numbers with extensions, use
extension or ext., not x. For phone numbers that use letters for easier recall, include the
numeric form in parentheses when possible.
800-282-2732
800-MY-APPLE (800-692-7753)
800-800-APPL (800-800-2775)
408-996-1010
See also addresses (mailing). For information about international telephone numbers, see
Telephone numbers.
television TV is preferred. Don’t use television set or TV set. See also AppleTV.
television monitor Don’t use. Use video monitor or monitor.
temperatures To list temperatures, repeat the degree symbol but not the abbreviation.
Use a space between the symbol and the abbreviation: 50° to 104° F (0° to 40° C).
terabit See Tbit (n., adj.).
terabits per second See Tbit/s.
terabyte See TB (n., adj.).
terabytes per second See TB/s.
terminal A device or software for sending commands to a computer. Capitalize when
referring to the Terminal app.
terminal emulation (n., adj.) No hyphen.
text field See field.
text file Two words.
202Apple Style Guide
text message OK to shorten to message if the context is clear. Avoid using text and texts
as nouns.
Correct: Click Reply in a notification to reply to an email or text
message.
Correct: To delete all messages in the thread, tap Delete All.
Incorrect: To delete all texts in the thread, tap Delete All.
Use text as a verb only in informal contexts; otherwise, use send a text message.
See also message.
that Use to introduce a restrictive clause; clauses beginning with that are generally not set
off with commas.
This is the computer that has network access. [There are many
computers; the phrase that has network access restricts—narrows the
meaning of—the subject of the sentence to one computer.]
The newest computer in the lab, which is a Mac Pro, is also the
students’ favorite. [There’s only one newest computer; the phrase which
is a Mac Pro, although it provides more information, doesn’t restrict the
subject of the sentence.]
See also which.
theater Not theatre.
they, their, them See pronouns.
third party (n.), third-party (adj.) The adjective is hyphenated. Don’t use 3rd-party, 3P,
or other shortened forms.
You can use certain third-party products with the Find My app.
If your audience may not be familiar with the term, you can use not made by Apple, from
other companies, or similar wording.
thread In the context of a series of related files, such as email messages, items are in a
thread.
You can reply to an earlier message in the thread.
three-dimensional See 3D.
three-prong outlet Don’t use. Use grounded outlet.
throw away Don’t use when you mean drag an item to the Trash.
Correct: After you’ve expanded the compressed file, drag it to the
Trash.
Incorrect: Throw away the compressed file after you expand it.
thumb Don’t use when you mean scroller or slider.
tilde (~) See pathnames.
timecode One word.
timeline One word.
203Apple Style Guide
time of day Follow these guidelines for times, unless your department uses international
style (see Dates and times):
• Numerals: Use numerals for times of day.
2:00, 4:15, 7:30
• a.m. and p.m.: Include a.m. and p.m. (lowercase, with periods, preceded by a space) as
needed.
10:45 a.m., 6:30 p.m.
• Noon and midnight: Use 12:00 noon and 12:00 midnight or just noon and midnight.
• Range of times: In text, it’s preferable to use to with a range of times.
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Otherwise—for example, in an event agenda or a course listing—use an en dash
(Option-Hyphen).
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
If times in a range are both a.m. or both p.m., the first abbreviation can be omitted or
included, depending on the design.
1:30–3:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Don’t use from with the en dash.
Correct: from 1:30 to 3:00
Incorrect: from 1:30–3:00
timeout (n., adj.) One word.
timestamp (n., v.) One word.
time zone Use lowercase for the names of time zones except for proper nouns.
Pacific standard time (PST), Pacific daylight time (PDT), mountain
standard time (MST), mountain daylight time (MDT), central standard
time (CST), central daylight time (CDT), eastern standard time (EST),
eastern daylight time (EDT)
title bar Two words.
titled Not entitled.
titles, disc See disc titles.
titles, document See document titles.
titles of works Use italics for the titles of books, magazines, newspapers, manuals,
movies, videos, plays, television shows, radio shows, podcast series, blogs, music albums,
and works of art.
Use plain text and quotation marks for the titles of works that are more limited in scope,
such as articles, stories, reports, TV episodes, podcast episodes, sections of blogs, songs,
chapters and sections of works, and photographs.
See also disc titles; document titles.
204Apple Style Guide
title-style capitalization Capitalize each word—except for articles, prepositions of four or
fewer letters, and so on. See also capitalization.
titles, window See window titles.
to-do (adj.) Note hyphen: to-do list. Don’t use as a noun.
Today View Don’t precede with the.
Drag the widget to a new location in Today View.
toggle (v.) OK to use in developer materials. Don’t use in user materials; instead, say turn
on or off, switch between, or whatever wording is appropriate in the context.
See also switch (v.).
toolbar One word.
toolkit One word.
tooltip Don’t use, except in developer materials; use help tag instead. See also help tag.
top button Use to refer to the button on the top left of Apple Vision Pro and the top right
of iPad.
To take a spatial photo on Apple Vision Pro, press the top button.
Use press to mean pressing the top button once; use double-click or triple-click to mean
pressing it more than once.
Torx screwdriver Not Torex or Torque.
TOSLINK Note spelling. A connector used in optical digital audio cables.
touch In visionOS, it’s OK to use touch when referring to interacting directly with virtual
objects (such as the virtual keyboard).
To type on the virtual keyboard, touch the keys; touch and hold a key to
show special characters and accents.
See also tap (n., v.).
touch and hold Refers to the act of touching a touchscreen and leaving the finger
motionless until an action or result occurs.
Touch and hold the Mute button to hold a call.
Don’t use tap and hold. Don’t use long press in user materials (it’s OK in developer
materials).
See also click and hold; gestures; long press (n.), long-press (adj.); tap (n., v.).
Touch Bar A narrow Multi-Touch surface above the keyboard on some Mac laptop
computers. Don’t shorten to the Bar. Refer generically to items in the Touch Bar as
controls, items, or tools. Items are in (not on) the Touch Bar. Use standard Multi-Touch
gestures (including tap, swipe, drag, and touch and hold) to describe how users interact
with the Touch Bar.Users don’t press the TouchBar.
You can use the controls in the Touch Bar to play and pause a movie.
Tap Edit in the Touch Bar.
Drag the scrubber in the TouchBar.
205Apple Style Guide
You can also simply sayuse the Touch Bar to point users to a Touch Bar method of doing
a task.
To change the color of the selected object, click a color in the color
well, or use the TouchBar.
See also Control Strip; gestures; TouchID.
TouchID A fingerprint recognition technology used for authentication. It’s OK to use Touch
ID alone or in terms such as Touch ID sensor.
Click the Apple Pay button, and then use TouchID to complete the
payment.
Make sure the Touch ID sensor and your finger are clean and dry.
To give instructions for using Touch ID, you can also refer to the button that Touch ID is
integrated into—for example, the Home button on iPhone.
Press the Home button with the finger you used to set up TouchID.
touchscreen One word.
Touch surface The touch-sensitive upper half of the Siri Remote. You press the Touch
surface, rather than tap or click.
Press left or right on the Touch surface to skip backward or forward.
Swipe up on the Touch surface to reveal more information.
To access contextual (shortcut) menus, press and hold the Touch
surface.
See also AppleTV Remote; Siri Remote.
touch-tone (adj.) Note hyphenation.
toward Not towards.
trackball One word.
track list Two words.
trackpad One word.
trademarks (credit lines and symbols) The name of any trademarked Apple product
or service mentioned in a document must appear in the appropriate credit line on the
copyright page. Categories include registered trademarks (®), trademarks (™), registered
service marks (®), and service marks (
SM
).
FinalCutPro is a trademark of AppleInc., registered in the U.S. and
other countries. [Registered trademark]
Multi-Touch is a trademark of AppleInc. [Unregistered trademark]
AppleCare is a service mark of AppleInc., registered in the U.S. and
other countries. [Registered service mark]
Apple Originals is a service mark of AppleInc. [Unregistered service
mark]
206Apple Style Guide
• Third-party trademarks: Some companies have special requirements for the use of their
trademarks in Apple documents and for the wording in a trademark notice. For a list of
those trademarks and their notices, see the “Special and Licensed Trademarks and/or
Copyrights” section of the Apple trademark list.
• Trademark symbols: In user and developer materials (print and electronic), don’t use
trademark symbols for Apple trademarks in headings or text. Note that other types
of documents, such as press releases, do use trademark symbols in text. Follow the
guidelines for your type of documentation.
Trademark status may change with time. For the most current Apple trademarks,
consult the Apple trademark list.
trademarks (usage) Follow these guidelines for using trademarks in text:
• Plural form: Don’t use a trademarked name in the plural form.
Correct: If you have more than one Mac computer…
Incorrect: If you have several Macs…
• Possessive form: Don’t use a trademarked name in the possessive form.
Correct: Learn more about the features of your MacBook Pro.
Incorrect: Learn more about your MacBook Pro’s features.
• Multiple-word trademarks: If a trademark is more than one word (for example, AppleTV,
iPadPro), don’t break it across multiple lines of text. In many cases, you can use a
nonbreaking space (Option-Space bar) to keep the name on one line.
• Third-party trademarks: For third-party trademarks, follow the usage guidelines posted
on the Apple trademark list.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol See TCP/IP.
Transparency mode An AirPods feature.
Trash Use an article (drag the file to the Trash).
tray-loading (adj.) Not tray-load. See also slot-loading (adj.).
triple click (n.), triple-click (v.), triple-clicking (n., v.) Note hyphenation.
You can quickly turn on accessibility features with a triple click.
Triple-click the Digital Crown.
Quickly turn on accessibility features by triple-clicking the side button.
See also click.
triple press (n.), triple-press (v.), triple-pressing (n., v.) Refers to quickly pressing three
times on the stem of some models of AirPods. Note hyphenation.
You can use a triple press to control playback.
Triple-press the stem to skip to the previous track.
Skip to the previous track by triple-pressing the stem.
Don’t use to refer to quickly pressing a mechanical button three times; use triple-click.
See also triple click (n.), triple-click (v.), triple-clicking (n., v.).
207Apple Style Guide
troubleshoot (v.), troubleshooting (n., adj.) One word.
TrueDepth One word. The Apple camera system that enables Face ID.
True Tone The display technology. OK to use alone or in terms such as True Tone display
and True Tone technology.
True Tone flash An LED flash in iPhone and iPad cameras. Some iPhone models have an
Adaptive True Tone flash.
tune in to Three words. See also into, in to.
Türkiye Use this spelling for the country name, not Turkey.
turn on, turn off OK to use when you describe power to a computer or peripheral device.
You can also use turn on to describe enabling features such as file sharing, as in turn on
file sharing. See also startup (n., adj.), start up (v.).
TV Not TV set or television set. See also AppleTV.
TV monitor Don’t use. Use video monitor or monitor. See also display (n.); monitor.
tvOS Apple’s operating system for AppleTV. Use without an article.
Thousands of apps are available for tvOS.
See also iOS; Mac operating systems; watchOS.
tweet (n., v.) Note lowercase.
twisted-pair cable Note hyphenation.
two-dimensional See 2D.
two-factor authentication A security feature that requires users to enter a code from a
trusted device when signing in to their Apple Account on a new device.
two-step verification A security feature that requires users to enter a code from a trusted
device when signing in to an app or a service.
type (n.) Use in general references to the text that appears on a page. Don’t use type
when you mean font. See also font.
type (v.) Use to describe the act of pressing keys to produce characters on the screen.
Use code font or quotation marks to represent what the user actually types, depending on
your department’s style guidelines.
In the Title field, type Exchange Rate per $1.
For example, type “dog” in the search field to find photos of dogs.
Use regular text font to describe generically what the user types.
Type a new timecode value and press Return.
Don’t use type in when you mean type. See also enter; press.
Type 1 font A font that conforms to the ISO 9541 standard.
208Apple Style Guide
type-ahead (n., adj.) Refers to the queuing of a user’s keystrokes until an app is ready to
process them.
typeface Don’t use; use font. See also font.
type size Don’t use; use size or font size. See also font size.
type style Don’t use; use style or font style. See also font style.
U
UDF Abbreviation for Universal Disk Format. For guidelines about spelling out
abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
UFS Abbreviation for UNIX File System, a file format available in Disk Utility that’s used
primarily by UNIX and UNIX-based operating systems. Not necessary to spell out on first
occurrence.
UI Abbreviation for user interface. OK to use in developer materials. In user materials, use
interface.
UK No periods. OK to abbreviate or to spell out United Kingdom as a noun. Use the
abbreviation for the adjective form.
ultra (prefix) Close up except before a vowel.
ultrafast, ultralight, ultrasharp, ultrathin, ultrawide
ultra-efficient
unavailable Use to describe an item—such as a menu command or an option in a dialog—
that the user can’t select or choose because certain conditions aren’t met.
The Copy command is unavailable if there’s no text selected.
See also dimmed.
uncheck Don’t use; use deselect. See also checkbox.
unclick Don’t use; use deselect. See also checkbox.
under Don’t use to describe an operating system environment. Use in or with (in macOS,
not under macOS).
Don’t use to refer to items in menus.
Correct: Use the commands in the Arrange menu.
Incorrect: Use the commands under the Arrange menu.
Don’t use to describe where things are in the interface; use below instead.
Correct: The mailboxes below On My Mac are stored on your computer.
Incorrect: The mailboxes under On My Mac are stored on your
computer.
unhighlight (v.) Don’t use. Use deselect for the action of clicking to remove highlighting.
unhighlighted (adj.) Don’t use; use not highlighted. See also unselected (adj.).
209Apple Style Guide
Unicode A 16-bit character encoding standard developed by the Unicode Consortium;
used for representing characters as integers.
Uniform Resource Locator See URL.
uninstall OK to use uninstall and uninstaller. See also install.
unit Don’t use to refer to a hardware product. Use a different noun as appropriate.
Correct: Take apart the computer.
Incorrect: Take apart the unit.
Universal Disk Format See UDF.
Universal Serial Bus See USB.
UNIX All caps; there’s no spelled-out version.
UNIX File System See UFS.
unmount (v.) In user materials, avoid when referring to making a disk or disk image
unavailable; use alternatives such as eject or make unavailable, or describe what the user
must do to make the disk unavailable.
Avoid: Unmount the disc when you finish using it.
Preferable: Eject the disc when you finish using it.
In server materials or materials for more technical users, it’s OK to use unmount.
In Disk Utility, select the disk you want to unmount and click Unmount in
the toolbar.
Use this function to unmount one or more server volumes.
Don’t use unmount as an intransitive verb.
Correct: Unmount the volume.
Incorrect: The volume unmounts.
See also mount (v.); mounted (adj.).
unmounted (adj.) In user materials, avoid when referring to a disk or disk image that isn’t
available; use alternatives such as not available or not visible in a Finder window.
Avoid: If a disk is unmounted, you can’t access files on it until you
mount it again.
Preferable: If a disk is unavailable, you can’t access files on it until you
make it available again.
In server materials or materials for more technical users, it’s OK to use unmounted.
Disk Utility lists both mounted and unmounted volumes.
See also mount (v.); mounted (adj.).
unselected (adj.) Use to describe something that’s not selected. Not deselected,
unchecked, or dehighlighted. See also checkbox; deselect; unhighlighted (adj.).
210Apple Style Guide
up arrow Use to refer to the small arrow that users click to increase a value in a stepper.
Click the up arrow to increase the text indent.
See also stepper; Up Arrow key.
Up Arrow key When you refer to arrow keys generically, use lowercase. When you refer
to one or more arrow keys by name, capitalize and use the complete name. See also
arrow keys.
update Use to refer to a minor software release that updates a version of software, but
doesn’t upgrade it to the next major version.
macOS Mojave 10.14.1 is an update to macOS Mojave 10.14.
Don’t use maintenance release or dot release. See also upgrade; version number.
upgradable Not upgradeable.
upgrade Use to refer to a major version of a software product. For example, macOS
Mojave is an upgrade to macOS High Sierra. See also update; version number.
upload Reword if possible, but OK to use when you refer to copying files to a server.
Avoid using upload to refer to what iCloud does; instead, content is stored, is kept up to
date, appears automatically, and so on.
Avoid: Every new photo you take is uploaded to My Photo Stream.
Preferable: Every new photo you take appears in My Photo Stream.
See also iCloud.
uppercase (n., adj.) When used in conjunction with lowercase as a noun (or to modify a
noun), use uppercase and lowercase (both words spelled out, in that order).
upside-down (adj.) Note hyphenation.
uptime One word.
up-to-date (adj.), up to date (pred. adj.) Note hyphenation.
Check the Apple Support site for up-to-date information.
Make sure your software is up to date.
upward Not upwards.
URL Abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, which is another term for an internet
address. URL is pronounced “you-are-ell” and should be preceded by a, not an. In most
user materials, use internet address or web address, not URL. For guidelines about spelling
out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms. See also internet addresses.
U.S. Use periods except when the abbreviation appears close to other country or region
name abbreviations that don’t use periods. Use the abbreviation as an adjective only; as a
noun, spell out United States (except in trademark notices). To include the country name in
a U.S.-based Apple address, use USA (no periods). See also America, American.
211Apple Style Guide
USB Abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. Avoid as a noun. For guidelines about spelling
out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
USB connector types There are several types of USB connectors (and corresponding
ports):
• USB Type-A: On first mention, describe what the connector looks like (rectangular). OK
to shorten to USB-A connector (or USB-A port).
• USB Type-B: On first mention describe what the connector looks like (square). OK to
shorten to USB-B connector (or USB-B port).
• USB Type-C: A tiny USB connector that supports USB 3.1 and USB power delivery. OK
to shorten to USB-C connector (or USB-C port).
user If the audience of your document consists of users, avoid this term. Instead, address
the reader as you.
Correct: You can make movies with effects and a soundtrack.
Incorrect: Users can make movies with effects and a soundtrack.
When the audience consists of developers or administrators, use user to refer to end users
and you to address the developer or administrator.
You may need to prevent users from accidentally making changes.
You can give users access to the server.
User is also appropriate in the context of macOS users—for example, when you discuss
Users & Groups settings in macOS.
See also end user (n.), end-user (adj.).
user-friendly (adj.), user friendly (pred. adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
user group Not users group or user’s group.
user guide, user manual The terms user’s guide, instructor guide, and student guide are
alternative forms used by some Apple groups; consult your department’s style guidelines.
See also manual.
user interface Don’t use in user materials; use interface. See also UI.
user name Two words.
utility Use lowercase when utility isn’t part of a proper name or when you use it
generically. Capitalize, and don’t use the, when the word is part of a proper name.
Use Apple Loops Utility to…
Use the Audio MIDI Setup utility to…
You can use the utility to…
utility application OK to use when you compare utility applications to other apps;
otherwise, use utility. See also utility.
utility program Don’t use; use utility. See also utility.
212Apple Style Guide
V
value slider A type of slider that includes the numeric value of the parameter in the
control. Users can drag up or to the right to increase the value, and drag down or to the
left to decrease the value.
variables In code and other technical notation, refers to artificial terms that are to be
replaced by a value or symbol. In running text, use italics when you refer to a variable, and
spell the variable just as it would appear in a syntax description.
Replace volumeName with a name of up to 12 characters.
When the words are being used as a regular English phrase, put spaces between words and
don’t use italics.
Correct: The volume name may have up to 12 characters.
Incorrect: The volumeName may have up to 12 characters.
Incorrect: The volumeName may have up to 12 characters.
See also placeholder names; Intro.
version number Include a version number with software names as needed—for example,
when describing a new version of a product or comparing two versions of a product.
Otherwise the version number can usually be omitted.
Don’t include the word version or the letter v when you refer to versions of software—for
example, Keynote 8.3, not Keynote version 8.3.
Compressor 4 includes support for 360° video.
FinalCutPro is the software of choice for professional video editors.
When referring to a major release number (such as macOS 10.14 or iOS 12), omit any
trailing .0 unless it’s needed for clarity.
Pages 6.0 must be installed before you update to Pages 6.1.
• Earlier or later: Use earlier or later, rather than lower or higher or newer or older.
To use Handoff, you need iOS 8 or later.
• The letter x: Except in developer materials, don’t use x to mean “any number,” as in 10.x;
use a specific number or range of numbers.
See also latest; Mac operating systems.
versus Not vs. Rewrite to avoid using versus when possible.
via Don’t use unless space is tight. Instead, use by, from, through, using, or with.
Exception: OK to use via in names of features such as Emergency SOS via satellite.
213Apple Style Guide
video Note the treatment of these terms beginning with video:
video camera, video capture card, video conference, video editing,
video game, video podcast, video tutorial
But: videotape
Don’t use a hyphen in compound adjectives that include video: video editing app.
In help for video editing apps, it’s generally preferable to use video to refer to the user’s
source footage and movie to refer to the edited program.
FinalCutPro can automatically sync video and audio clips in your
project.
You can share your finished movie on the web.
Use media rather than video when referring to more than one type of media.
The first step is to import your media—your photos, video files, and
audio files—into FinalCutPro.
See also media, medium; movie.
video cable Don’t use to describe a cable connecting a display or monitor to a computer;
use display cable (for Apple displays) or monitor cable (for non-Apple displays). OK to use
for a cable that connects audio/video equipment, such as a television or VCR. See also
display cable; monitor cable.
video camera Use to refer to a camera that captures motion picture images as an
electronic video signal and doesn’t have a built-in recording device. Don’t use when you
mean camcorder.
If you forget to focus your video camera during shooting, you may not
be able to fix the problem in post-production.
Because most video cameras are now digital, it usually isn’t necessary to include the word
digital, but you can use digital video camera if the context requires it.
Digital video cameras use a digital video signal rather than an analog
video signal.
In general references, it’s OK to use just camera.
A multicamera shoot uses multiple cameras to record an event from
different angles.
See also camcorder.
video card Don’t use; use graphics card. See also graphics card.
video chat, video chatting (n., v., adj.) OK to use video chat or video conference.
video conference, video conferencing (n., v., adj.) OK to use video conference or
video chat.
video input, video input/output, video output (n., adj.) You can shorten to video in, video
in/out, and video out. Types of video input/output include component video, composite
video, DVI, HDMI, S-video, and VGA video.
video jack Not video connector.
214Apple Style Guide
video mirroring (n., adj.) A dual-display mode in which the same image appears on two
displays.
video port Don’t use when you mean the port to which the display is connected; use
display port (for Apple displays) or monitor port (for non-Apple displays). See also display
port; monitor port.
video random-access memory See VRAM.
view Use view, not screen, to describe what a person sees while using AppleVisionPro.
Correct: To open Control Center, look up, and then tap near the top
of your view.
Incorrect: To open Control Center, look up, and then tap near the top
of the screen.
See also display (n.); screen.
View control The four-button unit for changing views of Finder windows. The View control
contains the Icon View button, the List View button, the Column View button, and the
Gallery View button. See also Column View button; Gallery View button; Icon View button;
List View button.
viewer window In the Mail app in macOS, the main window where mailboxes and messages
appear. On first occurrence, call it the Mail viewer window; for later references, use the
viewer window.
virtual keyboard Use to refer to the keyboard in visionOS.
virtual machine Note lowercase.
virtual memory Not Virtual Memory or VM.
visionOS The operating system for AppleVisionPro. Don’t precede with the.
Visual Look Up Note spelling and capitalization.
visually impaired Avoid. See also blind, low vision; impairment; Writing about disability.
voicemail Don’t use as a verb.
Voice Memos Capitalize when referring to the app name. Use lowercase when referring to
the recordings you make with the app. You can also use recordings.
To record a voice memo, open the Voice Memos app and tap Record.
voiceover, VoiceOver Use lowercase when you refer to recorded narration; capitalize when
you refer to the Apple screen reader.
You can record your own voiceover to add to your movie.
VoiceOver lets you navigate your device just by listening.
voice-quality microphone Note hyphenation.
215Apple Style Guide
volume (disk) A single storage area with a single file system. It typically resides on a
single partition of a single disk, but it may span multiple disks.
In user materials, usevolume only if you need to match the user interface.
• To refer generically to storage that may include different kinds of disks, just use disk.
Avoid: You can use the Find command to search for items on all volumes
connected to your computer.
Preferable: You can use the Find command to search for items on all
disks connected to your computer.
• To refer to a specific kind of disk, use hard disk, solid-state drive, or flash storage.
• For special audiences, such as administrators, use volume if a precise distinction
between the logical (volume) and physical (partition) aspects of the disk is relevant and
helpful to the reader.
Don’t rename a NetBoot share point or the volume it resides on.
Xsan SAN storage appears to clients as one or more volumes that
behave like local disks.
See also disk.
Volume Down key, Volume Up key Note capitalization.
volume license, volume licensing No hyphen.
VPN Abbreviation for virtual private network or virtual private networking. For guidelines
about spelling out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
VRAM Acronym for video random-access memory. Pronounced “VEE-ram.” For guidelines
about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
vs. Don’t use; use versus when absolutely necessary, but rewrite to avoid the term when
possible.
W
wait cursor See spinning wait cursor.
Walkie-Talkie A watchOS app. Don’t use as a verb; say use Walkie-Talkie, have a Walkie-
Talkie conversation, or similar.
WAN Acronym for wide area network. Note no hyphen in the spelled-out version. For
guidelines about spelling out acronyms, see abbreviations and acronyms.
want Make sure that an object follows the verb want.
Correct: Make a copy if you want a duplicate. [The word duplicate is the
object.]
Correct: Sign up if you want to attend. [The infinitive, to attend, is the
object.]
You can often avoid the issue entirely. For example, If you want to introduce alternative
methods can be changed to To introduce alternative methods.
216Apple Style Guide
warm start (n.), warm-start (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
Warning Use a Warning notice when the reader needs to know that an action may cause
bodily injury, damage to hardware or software, or loss of data.
Use warnings and other notices sparingly. They lose their effectiveness if they appear too
often. Don’t use a Warning notice immediately before or after a note, an Important notice,
or another Warning notice, or immediately after a text heading.
See also Important; Note.
watch face Use to refer to what you see when Apple Watch is displaying a watch. Don’t
shorten to face.
Correct: With the watch face showing, press the display.
Incorrect: You can add stock info to the face.
In most cases, don’t say touch and hold the watch face; you touch and hold the display
while viewing the watch face. See also display (n.).
watchlist One word when referring to the list of stocks in the Stocks app.
watchOS The operating system for AppleWatch.
waveform (n., adj.) One word.
wavelength (n.) One word.
we Don’t use first person; rewrite in terms of the reader or the product.
Correct: For best results, the image should be at least 600 x 600 pixels.
Incorrect: We recommend that the image be at least 600 x 600 pixels.
See also recommend.
web Short for World Wide Web. You go to, visit, or view pages on the web. Note the
treatment of terms beginning with web:
webcam, webcast, webinar, webmail, webpage, website
web app, web browser, web developer, web server
Don’t use web and internet interchangeably; the web is just one part of the global internet.
See also internet addresses; World Wide Web.
web addresses See internet addresses; URL; webpage.
web clip Capitalize when referring to the Dashboard widget; otherwise, use lowercase.
webpage One word. A self-contained document that can be viewed on a website. A single
website can contain many webpages. You connect to (or go to) a page; you’re then at that
page. Text, graphics, and links, however, are on the page.
Don’t use website and webpage interchangeably.
See also homepage; internet addresses; website.
217Apple Style Guide
website Refers to a collection of webpages stored in a particular location.
A website may be organized into several parts, sections, or areas, each of which may
contain more than one page. Use part, section, or area to refer to such an entity. Use page
to refer to a single webpage. Use website to refer to the entire collection.
You can browse, visit, or go to a website, but don’t use such phrases as point your browser
at the website and surf the website.
See also homepage; webpage.
well-behaved Don’t use to describe software; use compatible, well-constructed, and
the like.
wellbeing One word (exception to Merriam-Webster).
wheelchair user OK to use to describe a person in a wheelchair; also OK to say a person in
a wheelchair or a person who uses a wheelchair. Don’t use wheelchair-bound, confined to
a wheelchair, or handicapped. See also Writing about disability.
whether See if, whether.
which Use only to introduce a nonrestrictive clause; clauses beginning with which are
always set off with commas.
The newest computer in the lab, which is a MacPro, is also the
students’ favorite. [There’s only one newest computer; the phrase which
is a MacPro, although it provides more information, doesn’t restrict the
subject of the sentence.]
This is the computer that has network access. [There are many
computers; the phrase that has network access restricts—narrows the
meaning of—the subject of the sentence to one computer.]
See also that.
while, although, whereas While means during the time that and implies concurrent
activities. Use although to mean in spite of the fact that. Use whereas to mean it being the
fact that or while on the contrary.
Correct: Although the clip won’t play back at 1x (normal) speed, every
frame plays back, with no frames dropped.
Incorrect: While the clip won’t play back at 1x (normal) speed, every
frame plays back, with no frames dropped.
Correct: SD video uses interlaced scanning, whereas HD formats may
use either interlaced or progressive scanning.
Incorrect: SD video uses interlaced scanning, while HD formats may use
either interlaced or progressive scanning.
whir Not whirr. But whirring.
The disk drive whirs, and in a moment the startup screen appears.
whitelist Don’t use. See also blacklist/whitelist (n., v.).
218Apple Style Guide
who, whom Who should always be used as the subject of a verb or as a subject
complement. Whom should always be used as the object of a verb or preposition.
Who is the new system administrator
This manual is intended for the person who manages the network.
Be selective about the people to whom you give network access.
wide Use a hyphen in compound adjectives beginning with wide.
wide-angle viewing, wide-format screen
Exception: widescreen
Close up words that end with wide.
companywide, enterprisewide, industrywide, systemwide, worldwide
If part of the compound is a proper noun, use a hyphen: Apple-wide.
wide area network See WAN.
wide color gamut (n.), wide-color-gamut (adj.) A video color space capable of
reproducing a broader palette of colors than legacy (standard color gamut) color spaces.
OK to shorten to wide gamut (n.) and wide-gamut (adj.) if the context is clear.
widescreen (adj.) One word.
widget Capitalize the names of widgets.
To customize the Weather widget…
To add a Stocks widget to Notification Center…
Wi-Fi Not wifi, wi-fi, or WiFi.
wiggle Don’t use to describe the movement of icons on a screen; use jiggle. See also
jiggle.
wiki A collaborative website that can be modified by members of a group.
window In user materials, use window to refer to the interface elements described below.
• macOS and visionOS: Use window for main app windows, document windows, and
windows with controls or options that affect the active document or selection, such as
the Fonts window.
All macOS windows have a functional close button in the title bar.
• iPadOS: Use window for app windows that are visible at the same time—for example,
when someone is multitasking using Split View or Slide Over.
You can open two windows from the same app in Split View.
You can also use window to refer to a Picture in Picture window. See also Picture in Picture
(n., adj.), picture-in-picture (adj.).
Don’t use window to refer to a popover. See also popover.
219Apple Style Guide
Except for the Picture in Picture window, don’t use window to refer to interface elements
in iOS. Instead of naming an element, in most cases you can simply describe what the user
must select or do. If necessary, you can usually use alternative words such as list.
Correct: To see more table styles, scroll left or right.
Incorrect: To see more table styles, scroll left or right in the Tables
window.
Correct: Tap an item in the search results list.
Incorrect: Tap an item in the search results window.
See also dialog; pane; sheet; tab.
window bar In visionOS, the horizontal bar at the bottom of a window that lets you move
the window.
window controls Standard controls for windows include the close button, the minimize
button, and the maximize button.
Windows See Microsoft Windows.
Windows-based (adj.), Windows based (pred. adj.) Refers to computers that use
Microsoft Windows. See also Microsoft Windows; PC.
window titles When you refer to a window by name, use the exact words in the title bar
of the window (the Mail window, the About This Mac window). Use lowercase for window
(unless it’s included in the window title and capitalized).
wired Equipped with or connected by wires or cables. Related terms include wired
connections, wired keyboard, wired mouse, wired networking, wired remote, and so on.
wireless-enabled Not wirelessly-enabled.
wish Don’t use; use want. See also want.
word processing (n.), word-processing (adj.) Note hyphenation of adjective.
words as words Italicize a word when it’s used as a word. Use an apostrophe and an s to
form the plural, but don’t italicize the apostrophe or the s.
He had too many and’s in the sentence.
See also letters as letters.
word wrap Not wraparound or word wraparound. In documentation written for new users,
however, you may want to mention the term wraparound or include it in a glossary because
users may see it elsewhere.
work Close up the following words beginning with work:
workflow, workforce, workgroup, workplace, workshop, workspace,
workstation
workflow One word.
workspace Don’t use as a synonym for desktop or Finder.
220Apple Style Guide
workstation (n., adj.) Don’t use when you mean desktop computer. OK to use when you
discuss network administration.
Worldwide Developers Conference See WWDC.
World Wide Web In most cases, just use the web. When you do use World Wide Web,
don’t abbreviate as WWW. See also internet, Internet; web.
wraparound (n.) Don’t use; use word wrap. See also word wrap.
write Avoid using as a verb in user materials; use copy or burn. In developer or server
materials, the following are acceptable: write to a disk, write to disk, write on a disk. Don’t
use write a disk.
User materials: Copy the files to your computer.
Developer materials: The app needs to write to the disk.
Server materials: Give the user permission to write to the disk.
See also burn.
Writing Tools An Apple Intelligence feature. Use a plural verb with Writing Tools.
Writing Tools are available nearly everywhere you write.
WWDC Abbreviation for Worldwide Developers Conference. For guidelines about spelling
out abbreviations, see abbreviations and acronyms.
WWW Don’t use as an abbreviation for World Wide Web. Use web instead.
X
x Follow these guidelines when you use the letter x to stand for something else:
• Screen resolutions: Use a lowercase x in screen resolutions.
1024 x 768 [Note the space before and after the x.]
• As a placeholder (variable): When you use x as a placeholder for replaceable numbers,
the x is lowercase and in regular text.
02xx [The x’s represent a range of memory addresses.]
• For a range of version numbers: Except in developer materials, don’t use x to express
a range of software version numbers, as in 10.x; use a specific number or range of
numbers.
• To designate speed: For the speed of optical drives, use a lowercase x—for example,
24x speed. There’s no space between the numeral and the x.
See also dimensions; version number.
x and y axes See also x-axis; y-axis.
x and y coordinates No hyphen. See also x-coordinate; y-coordinate.
x-axis Note hyphenation. See also x and y axes.
x-coordinate Note hyphenation. See also x and y coordinates.
221Apple Style Guide
Y
Y-adapter Note hyphenation.
y-axis Note hyphenation. See also x and y axes.
y-coordinate Note hyphenation. See also x and y coordinates.
Z
ZEISS Optical Inserts Prescription lenses for AppleVisionPro. Use the full name in most
cases; OK to shorten to optical inserts if space is limited.
zero character OK to use for the ASCII character 30. Don’t confuse with null character
(00).
zeros Not zeroes.
zip code Note lowercase.
zoom, Zoom Use lowercase when referring to the action of zooming. It’s OK to use zoom,
zoom in, zoom in on, zoom in to, zoom out, and zoom out of.
You can pinch to zoom in on apps, photos, and other items on iPad.
Capitalize when referring to the feature.
Use Zoom to magnify what’s on the Apple Watch display.
222Apple Style Guide
Writing inclusively
Intro to inclusive writing
The people who use Apple products reflect the diversity of the world at large. This chapter
provides guidelines and tips for how you can write consciously to include everyone.
Note:Guidance about inclusive writing may change over time, so check back for updates.
Also keep in mind that inclusive language may vary slightly in different locales, so you may
need to adapt the principles here to the unique needs of your language or region.
General guidelines
Think inclusively.
As you write, think about your potential audience, and try to imagine your content from
their perspective. Will the words and phrases you use be understood by everyone Do
these words and phrases have any harmful or negative associations
Keep in mind that words can sometimes carry meanings you don’t intend. Be open to
learning about the impact of language, and be respectful of those who may receive words
differently from how you intended them.
Research words.
Investigating the history and usage of a word can help you decide whether to use it. For
example, some common expressions (like grandfathered in) arose from oppressive or
exclusionary contexts. If you’re unsure about a word or expression, be sure to research
both how it originated and how it’s understood by people now.
223Apple Style Guide
Consider the context.
Even if a common word has one negative use that you should avoid, it may still be
acceptable in other contexts. For example, although it’s inappropriate to use mute to refer
to a person who is nonspeaking, it’s OK to use it to refer to silencing a device. Take context
into account when making wording decisions.
Avoid terms that are violent, oppressive, or ableist.
Don’t describe technology using terms that are inherently violent—like kill or hang. Don’t
use the terms master and slave, which describe an oppressive human relationship. Finally,
don’t use terms like sanity check, which associates mental health with being functional.
In general, it’s a good idea to avoid describing software or hardware using human or
biological attributes; doing so can lead to unintended hurtful implications.
Avoid idioms and colloquial expressions.
Common sayings—like fall through the cracks, on the same page, or backseat driver—
can add flavor to writing, but they can also be difficult to understand for people who are
learning the language. If your content is localized, using phrases like these can also make it
more difficult to translate.
Don’t use color to convey positive or negative qualities.
Avoid assigning good and bad values to colors (for example, blacklist, white hat hacker, or
red team hacker) or using colors as metaphors to convey larger concepts. Use colors only
to describe actual colors (for example, black text on a white background, the white point of
a display).
Err on the side of caution.
If you’re not sure about a term, but you believe it might be questionable based on your
research or feedback from others, then choose a different term. The beauty of language is
that there’s usually a term that expresses the meaning you want to convey just as well—or
even more clearly.
224Apple Style Guide
Inclusive representation
Remember that the people who use Apple products have a broad variety of life
experiences, cultures, and backgrounds. When your content depicts people—real or
fictional—make sure to represent the diversity of the world.
Use diverse names as examples.
Sometimes you may use names as examples. Include names that reflect a variety of
ethnicities and genders.
Given name examples: Blair, Étienne, Guillermo, Lee, Mayuri, Priyanka,
Shannon, Yen
Family name examples: Kawashima, Lai, McNeil, Melnykova, Salinas,
Sears, Zhao
Also keep in mind that some cultures don’t use a Western-style name structure (given
name followed by a family name). In addition, some cultures may use multiple family
names. Try to reflect this diversity in your examples.
Avoid biases and stereotypes.
Bias is a tendency to think and behave in ways that are favorable (or unfavorable) to certain
people or communities. Be aware of ways your content may unintentionally reinforce
biases, and consciously work to avoid doing so. For example:
• If your content uses text or imagery to depict people in certain occupations or settings,
include a variety of ethnicities, genders, ages, body types, and abilities.
• If your content mentions examples of holidays, foods, or sports, don’t just give
examples from Western culture.
• Avoid using examples that reflect primarily an affluent lifestyle.
A stereotype is a fixed belief about people or groups based on identifying characteristics,
like gender, race, physical capability, or age. Avoid stereotypes in how people are
presented in your content. For example, don’t only represent a family as a woman, a man,
and their biological children; remember to include a variety of family types.
225Apple Style Guide
Gender identity
Avoid binary representations of gender when you can reword using gender-neutral
language.
Avoid: Hiring men and women of diverse backgrounds fosters a culture
of innovation.
Preferable: Hiring people of diverse backgrounds fosters a culture of
innovation.
It’s OK to refer to specific genders if the context requires it.
The percentage of women in the workforce has increased.
Women should earn the same as men for comparable work.
Use gender-neutral pronouns.
Don’t use gender-specific pronouns (such as he, she, he or she, and so on) to refer to
people of unspecified gender. Instead, it’s OK to use they, their, or them as a singular,
gender-neutral pronoun.
Correct: A subscriber can post their recipes to your shared folder.
Incorrect: A subscriber can post his or her recipes to your shared folder.
You can also avoid gender-specific pronouns by rewriting a sentence—for example, using
the plural form of the noun (subscribers can post their recipes), or simply omitting the
pronoun (a subscriber can post recipes).
If you refer to a specific person, don’t make assumptions about which pronouns to use
based on the person’s name or appearance. If you’re unsure how to refer to someone, you
can ask them. Individuals may go by he/him, she/her, they/them, other pronouns, or no
pronouns.
Use gender-neutral titles and honorifics when appropriate.
Some people may choose to use a gender-neutral title (such as Mx.). If you’re writing
content about (or addressed to) a real person, and your style requires you to include a title,
ask the person what title they use. If you can’t ask them, consider adopting a style that
refers to people using only their name.
226Apple Style Guide
Writing about disability
When you write about people with disabilities, focus on each individual’s accomplishments,
personality, authentic story, or message. You may not even need to mention someone’s
disability unless it’s essential to the content; if you do refer to someone’s disability, follow
the guidelines below.
Understand when to use identity-first or person-first
language.
People who consider a disability or neurodivergence to be part of their identity may prefer
identity-first language, which places an emphasis on culture: A Deaf person, an autistic
person.
Others may prefer person-first language, which emphasizes the individual first, then their
disability: A person who is deaf or hard of hearing, a person on the autism spectrum.
Preferences for identity-first and person-first language vary; when writing about specific
individuals or groups, always ask them how they prefer to be identified.
For advice about specific terms, see A guide to terms about disability, below.
Acknowledge a wide range of disability.
It’s helpful to think about disability on a spectrum. For example, with blindness, there’s a
wide range of vision differences—from people who are born blind, to those with low vision,
to others with loss of vision in certain areas, such as peripheral vision. In addition, some
people may have multiple disabilities.
Avoid ableist language.
Don’t use language that presents people without disabilities as the norm. For example,
don’t describe nondisabled people as normal, healthy, regular, or able-bodied. Instead,
you can use a person without a disability, a nondisabled person, a neurotypical person, a
hearing person, and similar terms.
Avoid treating disability as something to overcome, and don’t describe people with
disabilities as brave, courageous, or inspiring, which can come across as condescending.
Avoid language that refers to using specific senses.
When writing instructions (such as in training manuals or user guides), avoid using phrases
that refer to the use of specific senses, like you see a message, you see a flashing light,
or you hear an alert sound. Instead, simply describe what happens: A message appears, a
light flashes, an alert sound plays.
Also avoid using idioms that send negative messages about disability—for example, that’s
crazy, fell on deaf ears, or turned a blind eye to.
227Apple Style Guide
Some phrases and idioms are OK.
It’s OK to use commonly understood phrases such as the ones below:
I see your point.
You can watch your favorite movies on the Apple TV app.
Hear about the latest news right when it happens.
Don’t hesitate to speak your mind.
Even if people in your audience can’t see, hear, or speak, they’ll typically understand the
intent of the words.
It’s also OK to use the common cross-reference See when linking to other material (for
example, See the Apple Support article “Set up Family Sharing”).
A guide to terms about disability
Use the table below as a general guide when writing about disability.
In most cases, use identity-first language for people who consider a disability to be part
of their identity; otherwise, you can use person-first language. When you’re writing about
specific people with disabilities, be sure to find out how they prefer to be identified.
Identity first Person first Avoid
A disabled person
Disabled people
A person with a disability
People with disabilities
Differently abled
Special needs
Special abilities
Handicapped
Handicapable
A blind person A person who is blind
A person who has low vision
Note:Some people may use the
term visually impaired. If you’re
writing about someone specific, ask
them what they prefer.
A deaf person
Note:Use Deaf (with a capital D) to
refer to those who identify culturally
as Deaf—for example, a member of
the Deaf community.
A person who is deaf
A person who is hard of hearing
People who are deaf or hard of
hearing
Hearing impaired
Deaf and dumb
Deaf-mute
A deafblind person
Note:Some communities capitalize
the D, or both the D and B—for
example, a DeafBlind person, the
DeafBlind community. If you’re
writing about someone specific, ask
them what they prefer.
A person who is deaf and blind
A limb-different person
An amputee
A person with limb differences
A person who had an amputation
A wheelchair user A person who uses a wheelchair
A person in a wheelchair
Wheelchair-bound
Confined to a wheelchair
228Apple Style Guide
Identity first Person first Avoid
An autistic person
Autistic people
Note:Some people who identify
culturally as autistic capitalize the
A—for example, an Autistic person.
If you’re writing about someone
specific, ask them how they prefer
to be identified.
A person on the autism spectrum
People on the spectrum
Note:Many autistic people prefer
identity-first language to person-
first language. However, if you’re
writing about someone specific, ask
them what they prefer.
A person with autism, people with
autism
Autism spectrum disorder (use only
to refer to a medical diagnosis;
otherwise, use on the spectrum)
High-functioning, low-functioning
(instead, describe the type of
support the person needs)
Asperger’s
Note:Some people may identify
with the term Asperger’s (or Aspie).
If you’re writing about someone
specific, ask them what they prefer.
A neurodivergent person A person with a neurodivergence A neurodiverse person (individuals
are neurodivergent or neurotypical;
a group is neurodiverse)
A nonspeaking person
A nonverbal person
Note:The terms above have distinct
meanings; if you’re writing about
someone specific, ask them how
they prefer to be identified.
A person who is nonspeaking
A person who is nonverbal
Mute
229Apple Style Guide
Units of measure
Intro to units of measure
This chapter provides usage guidelines for units of measure and lists abbreviations and
symbols for frequently used units.
Follow these guidelines when you use units of measure in documentation:
• When to spell out: In user documentation, spell out units of measure and give the
abbreviation in parentheses on first occurrence. Repeat the spelled-out version in new
sections and chapters if the unit symbol or abbreviation is obscure and if the audience
requires it.
20 gigabytes (GB) of memory
Subsequent occurrences: 20 GB of memory
Always spell out nonmetric units of measure in text (for example, 17-inch display). It’s
OK to abbreviate such units in tables and technical specifications (Display size: 17 in.).
• Noun: When you use a unit symbol or abbreviation as a noun, insert a space between
the number and the abbreviation, and use the preposition of before the unit the value
quantifies.
20 GB of memory
Note that Apple Marketing Communications style for many abbreviations is to close up
the number and the abbreviation (20GB of memory).
• Adjective: When you use a spelled-out unit of measure in a compound adjective,
hyphenate the compound.
17-inch display
3-meter cable
When you use a unit symbol or abbreviation in a compound adjective, don’t hyphenate;
add a space between the number and the abbreviation.
20 nA battery
30 GB capacity
• Capitalization: With the exception of degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Rankine, units of
measure derived from a proper name aren’t capitalized when spelled out, but their unit
symbols are capitalized. (For example, the unit symbol for joule is J.)
230Apple Style Guide
• Plurals: Unit symbols and abbreviations are unaltered in the plural forms (for example,
lb., not lbs.).
• International System of Units: Use the unit symbol for units of the International System
of Units (SI) after first occurrence. If the unit symbol for meter could be confused with
another term in your document, spell out meter.
The maximum size for a memory card is 35 mm.
The Ethernet cable is 40 meters long.
Don’t use a period after an SI unit (unless the unit appears at the end of a sentence).
• Mixing symbols and names: Don’t mix unit symbols and names (m/second) or unit
symbols and abbreviations (J/sec.). Don’t mix a prefix name with a unit symbol (kiloHz),
or a prefix symbol with a unit name (khertz).
Prefixes for units of measure
Factor Prefix Symbol or abbreviation
10
24
yotta Y
10
21
zetta Z
10
18
exa E
10
15
peta P
10
12
tera T
10
9
giga G
10
6
mega M
10
3
kilo k
10
2
hecto h
10
1
deka da
10
–1
deci d
10
–2
centi c
10
–3
milli m
10
–6
micro
10
–9
nano n
10
–12
pico p
10
–15
femto f
10
–18
atto a
10
–21
zepto z
10
–24
yocto y
231Apple Style Guide
Names and unit symbols for units of measure
In the following table, when a unit symbol includes a nonalphanumeric character, the
keystrokes that generate the character are included in brackets after the unit symbol or
abbreviation.
Unit Unit symbol or abbreviation Quantity
ampere A electric current
ampere-hour Ah electric charge
ampere-second. See coulomb.
amperes per meter A/m magnetic field strength
amperes per square meter A/m
2
current density
amperes per volt. See siemens.
angstrom (10
–10
meters) Å [Option-Shift-A] optical wavelength
attoampere (10
–18
amperes) aA electric current
baud (signal events per second) Bd speed of data transmission
bel (10 decibels) B sound intensity
bit bit size of data
bits per second bit/s speed of data transmission
byte B size of data
candela cd luminous intensity
candela per square inch cd/sq. in. luminance
candela per square meter cd/m
2
luminance
centimeter cm length
characters per inch cpi letter spacing (in type)
coulomb (ampere-second) C electric charge
coulombs per volt. See farad.
cubic centimeter cm
3
volume
cubic foot cu. ft. volume
cubic inch cu. in. volume
cubic meter m
3
volume
cubic yard cu. yd. volume
cycle c complete execution of a periodically
repeated phenomenon
cycles per second. See hertz.
day d time
232Apple Style Guide
Unit Unit symbol or abbreviation Quantity
decibel (0.10 bels) dB sound intensity
degree ° [Option-Shift-8] angular measure
degree Celsius ° C [Option-Shift-8] temperature
degree Fahrenheit ° F [Option-Shift-8] temperature
degree K=kelvin. See kelvin.
degree Rankine ° R [Option-Shift-8] temperature
dots per inch dpi resolution
electromotive force emf energy derived from electrical
source per unit quantity of
electricity
electron volt eV energy
farad (coulombs per volt) F capacitance
foot ft. length
gallon gal. volume
gigabit Gbit computer memory
gigabits per second Gbit/s (standard)
Gbps (some Apple groups)
speed of data transmission
gigabyte GB computer memory
gigabytes per second GB/s speed of data transmission
gigahertz GHz frequency
gilbert Gb magnetomotive force
gram g mass, weight
grams per cubic centimeter g/cm
3
density
henry H inductance
hertz (cycles per second) Hz frequency
horsepower HP power
hour h time
inch in. length
joule (kilogram-meter) J energy
joules per second. See watt.
kelvin K thermodynamic temperature
kilobit (1000 bits) kbit computer memory
kilobits per second kbit/s (standard)
kbps (some Apple groups)
speed of data transmission
233Apple Style Guide
Unit Unit symbol or abbreviation Quantity
kilobyte (1024 bytes) KB computer memory
kilobytes per second KB/s speed of data transmission
kilogram kg mass, weight
kilogram-force centimeter kgf cm torque
kilogram-meter. See joule.
kilogram-meters per second
squared. See newton.
kilograms per cubic meter kg/m
3
density
kilohertz kHz frequency
kilohm k [Option-Z] electric resistance
kilometer km length, distance
kilometers per hour km/h velocity
kilowatt (kilovolt-ampere) kW power
kilowatt-hour kWh energy (usually electric power
consumption)
lines per inch lpi resolution
liter l volume
liters per second l/s change in volume over time
lumen lm flux of light
lux lx illumination
megabit Mbit computer memory
megabits per second Mbit/s (standard)
Mbps (some Apple groups)
speed of data transmission
megabyte MB computer memory
megabytes per second MB/s speed of data transmission
megahertz MHz frequency
megapixel MP resolution
meter m length, distance
meters per second m/s velocity
micrometer (10
–6
meters) m [Option-M] length
micron. See micrometer.
mil (10
–3
inches) mil length
mile mi. [except in mph] length, distance
miles per hour mph velocity
234Apple Style Guide
Unit Unit symbol or abbreviation Quantity
millimeter (10
–3
meters) mm length
million instructions per second MIPS microprocessor speed
millisecond (10
–3
seconds) ms time
millivolt (10
–3
volts) mV electric potential
milliwatt (10
–3
watts) mW power
minute min. time
month mo. time
newton (kilogram-meters per
second squared)
N force
newtons per square meter. See
pascal.
ohm [Option-Z] electric resistance
ounce oz. volume, weight
pascal (newtons per square meter) Pa pressure, stress
petabyte PB computer memory
point pt font size
pound lb. weight
poundal pdl. force
radian rad plane angle
radians per second rad/s angular velocity
radians per second squared rad/s
2
angular acceleration
revolutions per minute rpm angular velocity
second s (unit symbol) or sec.
(abbreviation)
time
siemens (amperes per volt) S conductance
square foot sq. ft. area
square inch sq. in. area
square meter m
2
area
square mile sq. mi. area
square yard sq. yd. area
steradian sr solid angle
terabit Tbit computer memory
terabits per second Tbit/s (standard)
Tbps (some Apple groups)
speed of data transmission
235Apple Style Guide
Unit Unit symbol or abbreviation Quantity
terabyte TB computer memory
terabytes per second TB/s speed of data transmission
tesla (webers per square meter) T magnetic flux density
ton tn. or ton mass, weight
volt V electric potential difference,
electromotive force
volt-ampere. See watt.
volts (point-to-point) V
pp
electric potential
volts (root mean square) V
rms
electric potential
watt (joules per second) W power
watt-hour Wh energy
weber Wb magnetic flux
webers per square meter. See tesla.
yard yd. length, distance
year yr. time
236Apple Style Guide
Technical notation
Intro to technical notation
This chapter gives special style and usage rules that apply largely or exclusively to
developer documentation.
When writing about a particular programming language, be careful to follow the
capitalization style of that language.
Code
Use code font for code.
Develop a method of spacing around punctuation and use the method consistently. It’s
often best to use “English-style” spacing (one space character between words) because
it’s easy to remember and to stick with.
(height, width: extended; quo: integer); PageSize =
1024
Syntax descriptions
Use code font for literals (parts of the language, values, and so on), italics for placeholder
names, and regular text for the brackets that enclose something that’s optional. Pay close
attention to punctuation.
Read ([file, ] var)
Use embedded caps to connect words that act as a single placeholder name (sourceFile).
Be consistent when naming placeholders; for example, don’t alternate between commands
and commandList.
237Apple Style Guide
Code font in text
Most developer documentation uses code font for computer-language elements in text.
Whether to use code font in text for other documents is a matter of judgment.
• Use code font for all text fragments that represent expressions in a programming
language.
• Use code font for names of files, volumes, directories, and libraries.
StandardCRuntime.o library
MainProg.c file
• Don’t use a function or method name as a verb.
Correct: Run ls on both directories.
Incorrect: ls both directories.
Correct: Use cd to change to the root directory.
Incorrect: cd to the root directory.
• Don’t mix fonts within a single word. Rewrite to avoid forming the plural of a word in
code font.
Correct: values of type integer
Incorrect: integers
• Use regular text font, not code font, for punctuation following a word or phrase in
code font, unless the punctuation mark is part of the computer-language element
represented.
NAN(004), nan(4), and NaN are examples of acceptable input.
Placeholder names in text
In running text, use italics when referring to a placeholder name (that is, an artificial term
that has meaning only in your documentation and is to be replaced by a value or symbol).
Spell the name just as it would appear in a syntax description. Don’t use a placeholder as
you would use a regular English term.
Correct: Replace volumeName with a name of up to 12 characters.
Correct: The volume name can be up to 12 characters long.
Incorrect: The volumeName can be up to 12 characters long.
Avoid foo, bar, and baz to represent hierarchical or ordered placeholder names in code
examples. Instead, use names that suggest the kind of item.
TObject.FirstMethod
TObject.SecondMethod
238Apple Style Guide
International style
Intro to international style
Following international style helps readers with limited English proficiency read what you
write. By following international style, you also help translators—human or machine—
localize your writing by minimizing the burdens of cultural and customary language usage.
Writing in the international style means that you write simply and that you express yourself
using standard international conventions. These are the basic rules:
• Write in simple structures.
• Don’t use idiomatic or colloquial expressions.
• Avoid shortcuts, symbols, and abbreviations that could easily be spelled out.
• Express data using the standard international conventions outlined in this chapter. You
should vary from these standards only when there’s a truly compelling advantage in
using a proprietary or customary style.
For more information about standard international conventions, visit the websites listed in
this chapter.
Countries
Country names are represented by a two-character code.
• International authority: International Organization for Standardization (ISO),
https://www.iso.org
• Standard: ISO 3166
• Usage: Countries are represented by a two-character code in a table, column, or row
that clearly indicates that the code represents a country.
239Apple Style Guide
The following table shows examples of country codes.
Code Country
DE Germany
ES Spain
FR France
IT Italy
JP Japan
MX Mexico
US United States
Currency
Currency amounts are expressed with a three-letter currency code.
• International authority: International Organization for Standardization (ISO),
https://www.iso.org
• Standard: ISO 4217
• Rationale: Currency codes are specific to a currency and can’t be confused or
misinterpreted by the reader. Currency symbols such as the dollar sign () aren’t unique
and are easily misread.
• Usage: Write the amount followed by a space and the currency code in capitals.
The computer is priced at 1199 USD.
The computer costs 1980 EUR.
The following table shows examples of currency codes.
Code Currency
CAD Canadian dollar
EUR euro
GBP pound sterling
JPY yen
USD U.S. dollar
240Apple Style Guide
Dates and times
Dates are expressed as year, month, day and are separated by a hyphen. Times are
expressed on a 24-hour clock.
• International authority: International Organization for Standardization (ISO),
https://www.iso.org
• Standard: ISO 8601
• Rationale: Date and time formats are represented with the largest units given first. From
left to right the ranking is year, month, week, day, hour, minute, second. This standard,
in addition to being used in many Asian languages, solves ambiguities in the date
notations used in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
• Usage: Dates are expressed numerically as year, month, day and are separated by a
hyphen. Times are expressed on a 24-hour clock. A colon separates hours, minutes,
and seconds. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) times are expressed as “Z.” Local time
zones are expressed as the number of hours from UTC.
AppleWatch Series9 was introduced on 2023-09-12.
The file will be posted at 18:00Z.
The file will be posted at 18:00 PST (UTC–8).
Decimals
Decimals are expressed by a period or comma. For numbers larger than 999, don’t use a
period or comma as a separator. A nonbreaking space (Option-Space bar) may be used
instead.
• International authority: Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM),
https://www.bipm.org
• Standard: BIPM SI Brochure
• Rationale: Breaking up large numbers makes them easier to read, especially in tables. A
nonbreaking space can’t be misinterpreted as a decimal marker.
• Usage: Use a period to produce a decimal in English. Numbers may be divided in groups
of three on either side of the decimal to make them easy to read. Use a nonbreaking
space instead of a period or comma to divide numbers. Express large numbers in their
smallest form to make them easier to read.
A kilobyte is 1024 bytes.
Apple sold 300 000 iMac computers in the first quarter.
Apple sold 3.7 million iMac computers in 2 years.
241Apple Style Guide
Languages
Language names are represented by a two-character code.
• International authority: International Organization for Standardization (ISO),
https://www.iso.org
• Standard: ISO 639
• Usage: Languages are represented by a two-character code in a table, column, or row
that clearly indicates that the code represents a language.
The following table shows examples of language codes.
Code Language
de German
en English
es Spanish
fr French
it Italian
jp Japanese
nl Dutch
mul Multiple languages
In some cases, you may need to append an extension to the code to represent a particular
Apple localization.
Code Language
en-GB British English
zh-CN Simplified Chinese
zh-TW Traditional Chinese
242Apple Style Guide
Telephone numbers
Telephone numbers begin with the plus sign and are followed by the country code, the
city code, and the number. Freephone (toll-free) numbers are expressed in the local style.
Always give a toll number if one is available.
• International authority: International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
https://www.itu.int
• Standard: ITU-T E.123
• Rationale: The plus sign (+) represents any number a caller must dial to get an outside
line, like 9. The caller then dials the remaining digits. Freephone numbers are usually
impossible to dial globally, even between Canada and the United States. Providing a
freephone number with a toll number allows customers to call no matter where they’re
from.
• Usage: Telephone number notations begin with the plus sign and are followed by the
country code, the city code, and the number. Breaks in national numbering plans may
be represented by a space. Toll-free numbers are expressed in the local style.
You can reach Apple by calling +1 408 996 1010 or 800-692-7753 (in
North America).
You can reach Apple France by calling +33 1 69 86 34 00 or 0800 046
046.
Units of measure
Use only units of the International System of Units (SI) to express the values of quantities.
Equivalent values in nonmetric units may be given in parentheses following SI values in
cases where safety may be an issue, or when they’re used in a product’s name.
• International authority: Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM),
https://www.bipm.org
• Standard: BIPM SI Brochure. United States interpretation is available from the
Department of Commerce at https://www.nist.gov/pml/pubs.
• Usage: Quantities are always expressed with a unit symbol. Use a nonbreaking space
(Option-Space bar) between the quantity and its symbol. Unit symbols are unaltered
in the plural, and are never hyphenated, even when they’re used as an adjective. Unit
symbols aren’t followed by a period unless they appear at the end of a sentence. Don’t
imply more precision than is reasonable in choosing a unit symbol.
The Apple HDMI to HDMI Cable is 1.8 m long.
The 13-inch MacBookAir computer weighs 1.35 kg.
The iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi models weigh 298.8 g (0.65 lb.).
The iMac computer has a 1.6 GHz, 2.8 GHz, or 3.1 GHz processor.
243Apple Style Guide
Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
Use of the “keyboard” Apple logo (Option-Shift-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of
Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws.
Apple, the Apple logo, AirDrop, AirMac, AirPlay, AirPods, AirPods Max, AirPods Pro, AirPort, AirPortExpress,
AirPortExtreme, AirTag, Animoji, Apple Books, Apple Card, Apple Cash, AppleMusic, Apple News, ApplePay,
Apple Pencil, Apple Pro Display XDR, AppleScript, Apple Studio Display, AppleTV, AppleWatch, Apple Watch
Ultra, AssistiveTouch, CarPlay, Cocoa, Cover Flow, Digital Crown, Dynamic Island, FaceID, FaceTime, FinalCutPro,
Finder, Find My, FireWire, Force Touch, GarageBand, Guided Access, Handoff, HomePod, iBooks, iMac, iMessage,
iMovie, iPad, iPad Air, iPadmini, iPadOS, iPadPro, iPhone, iPod, iPod classic, iPodnano, iPodshuffle, iPodtouch,
iTunes, iTunesU, iWork, Keychain, Keynote, Launchpad, Lightning, Live Photos, Live Text, Logic, Mac, MacBook,
MacBookAir, MacBookPro, Mac Catalyst, Macintosh, Macmini, macOS, MacPro, Mac Studio, Magic Keyboard,
Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, MagSafe, Memoji, Mission Control, Numbers, Optic ID, OSX, Pages, QuickTime,
Retina, Safari, Sidecar, Siri, SiriRemote, Siri Shortcuts, Spaces, Spotlight, SuperDrive, Taptic Engine, 3DTouch,
TimeCapsule, TimeMachine, Touch Bar, TouchID, TrueDepth, TrueTone, tvOS, watchOS, Xcode, and Xsan are
trademarks of AppleInc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.
Apple Intelligence, Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Remote Desktop, Apple Vision Pro, Genmoji, Image Playground,
Multi-Touch, SharePlay, and visionOS are trademarks of AppleInc.
AppleCare, Apple News+, Apple Podcasts, AppleStore, Apple TV+, AppStore, Genius, iCloud, iCloud+, iCloud
Drive, and iTunesStore are service marks of AppleInc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.
Apple Fitness+, Apple Originals, and iTunes Music Store are service marks of AppleInc.
Apple
One Apple Park Way
Cupertino, CA 95014
apple.com
IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.
The Bluetooth
®
word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such
marks by Apple is under license.
Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Confidential unpublished works, ©
1992–1997 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.
Intel, Intel Core, and Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corp. in the U.S. and other countries.
UNIX
®
is a registered trademark of The Open Group.
Other company and product names and logos mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective companies.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for
printing or clerical errors.
028-00817
