Terminology and word choices

Please read over the following guidelines for terminology, produuct names, Layer panel icon names, and puncuation. The goal is to make sure tutorial instructions are easy to understand and consistent.

Terminology

The table below contains key terms authors should use if possible.

USAGE

If you want the user to do this:

TERM

Then use this term in the coach mark:

DO

Examples

DON’T

Examples

Activate a menu item

choose

not click, not select

Choose File > Save

Choose Convert to Smart Object

Don’t: Click File > Save

Don’t: Select Convert to Smart Object

Activate a tool, layer, or thumbnail

select

not choose, not click

Select the Crop tool

Select the layer

Don’t: Choose the Crop tool

Don’t: Click on the layer

Drag a UI item or part of an image

drag

not click and drag

Drag the Opacity slider

Drag the flower

Drag to create a rectangular selection

Don’t: Click and drag the Opacity slider

Don’t: Click and drag the flower

Use one of these modifiers with a key or command:

Control/Command

Option/Alt

Control/right-click

Shift

Insert plus [ + ] after the modifier

Abbreviate modifier keys to save space

Include (Mac) (Win) for commands that are single platform only

Cmd+Z

Ctrl+Z

Shift+click

Shift+drag

Cmd+click

Ctrl+click

Opt+click

Cmd+click (Mac)
Ctrl+click (Win)

Opt+click (Mac)
Alt+click (Win)

Ctrl+click (Mac)
Right-click (Win)

Move the mouse indicator

Cursor

not pointer

Move your cursor outside the boundary

Don’t: Move the pointer outside the boundary

Use the Toolbar

Toolbar

not Tools panel, not Tools palette

Use a Blend mode, or use the Blend mode menu

Blend mode

not blending mode, not blend mode, not Blend Mode

Click the Blend mode menu (Normal) and choose the Screen Blend mode.

Product names

Follow these guidelines when you mention a product name in a tutorial:

Don’t include “Adobe” in the product name.
Mention Photoshop only when it’s important for clarification.
Don’t include “CC” in the product name.
If you must use a product name, stick to the names in the Do Use column below.

DO USE:	DON’T USE:
Adobe Dimension	Don’t: Adobe Dimensions
Adobe Fonts	Don’t: Fonts
Adobe Stock	Don’t: Adobe Stock for individuals
Camera Raw	Don’t: Adobe Camera Raw Don’t: ACR Don’t: Photoshop Camera Raw
Fresco	Don’t: Adobe Fresco
Illustrator	Don’t: Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator for iPad	Don’t: Illustrator on the iPad
Libraries	Don’t: CC Libraries
Lightroom Classic	Don’t: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Don’t: Photoshop Lightroom Classic Don’t: Lightroom Classic CC
Lightroom (cloud-based)	Don’t: Adobe Lightroom Don’t: Photoshop Lightroom Don’t: Lightroom CC
Lightroom for mobile	Don’t: Lightroom on mobile
Photoshop	Don’t: Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop for iPad	Don’t: Photoshop on the iPad

Acronymns

Acronym	Name	Definition
Ai	Illustrator	The industry-standard vector graphics software lets you create everything from web and mobile graphics to logos, icons, book illustrations, product pakcaging, and billboards.
CCD	Creative Cloud Desktop app	Location where builds are updated for installation
DP	Discover panel	A product panel that displays tutorials.
LCM	Learn Content Module	An engineering term and refers to the portion of the Discover panel where Learn tutorials are displayed
Ps	Photoshop	Create beautiful graphics, photos and art anywhere.
TB	Tutorial Builder	A builder that allows authors to create guided hands-on tutorials that users work through in Illustrator on their computers.

Layer panel icon names

Use these terms for the icons at the bottom of the Layer panels if possible.

Photoshop

DO EXAMPLES	DON’T EXAMPLES
Link layers
Add layer style
Add layer mask	Don’t: Add mask
Add vector mask	Don’t: Add mask
Create new adjustment layer	Don’t: Create new fill and adjustment layer
Create new fill layer	Don’t: Create new fill and adjustment layer
Create new layer	Don’t: Add layer
Create new group
Delete layer

Illustrator

DO EXAMPLES	DON’T EXAMPLES
Add layer clipping mask	Don’t: Add clipping mask.
Create new layer	Don’t: Add layer
Create new sublayer	Don’t Add sublayer
Delete layer	Don’t: Remove layer

Word Choices

Words to use	Words to avoid	Why
straightforward, short, direct, time-saving, smooth, efficient	not “easy” not “simple”	These words may not reflect how learners feel about topics that are new to them. Empathize with your audience and avoid these words unless they are important to describe what you’re teaching (such as a technique that really is quicker than an alternative). Some synonyms to consider: straightforward, short, direct, time-saving, smooth, efficient
tutorial, try it out, explore, practice, do {X thing}, guided, guidance, session, developing skills, going deeper, show how, walk through, grow/develop skills.	not learning, course, class, training, lesson, teaching, instruction, education, homework, exercise	Research tells us that users tend to think of learn content as geared toward beginners only and/or too heavy, requiring a lot of brainpower and investment. Use lightweight ways to talk about the activity of learning, like those marked in green, to lighten the mood instead.
	Illustrator or Photorshop	Since the learning content is created specifically for each product, using the term, “Illustrator” or "Photoshop", in the tutorial is generally redundant and should be avoided. However, if you are comparing the capabilities of Illustrator to Photoshop, it may be necessary to use those terms.