Language & grammar

highly recommended following the guidelines for language and grammar is encouraged as it will improve the user experience english use american english no extra u’s or l’s! exception we spell “catalogue” in a british way don’t ask why grammar active voice about use active voice over passive voice the beginning of a sentence should start with the focus on the person or thing taking action (subject), and the action itself (verb) more details about the thing being acted upon (object) come later in the sentence cut away extra words that aren’t required and don’t directly relate to the goal of the sentence statements (declarative sentences) formula subject (person or thing taking action) + verb + more information example verb “cut away” object “words that aren’t required ” avoid starting sentences with “you can ” start with instructive verbs instead by giving an instruction, “you can” is assumed information do press f5 on your keyboard to refresh your drawing don't to refresh your drawing, press f5 don't you can refresh your drawing by pressing f5 pronouns talking about the user 2nd person use 2nd person (“you”) when interacting with the user this includes in messaging seen in dialogs as well as the user's customized preferenences do your preferences do your view modes don't custom preferences don't user created view modes talking about the system 3rd person impersonal pronoun use the name of the program, “the program,” or “it” when talking about the program being used talking about another person besides the user 3rd person plural when talking about another unidentified person, it is best to avoid gendered pronouns when possible when it is necessary, use plural third person pronouns they/their/them/theirs do someone else has locked this section contact them to request permission to edit do someone else has locked this section contact him or her to request permission don’t someone else has locked this section contact him or her to request permission examples from atlassian's design system best ask your admin to add you ok ask your admin if they can add you no ask your admin is he or she can add you