Glossary
A
ad hoc, ad-hoc
Avoid using. Use one-off instead.
AM
Uppercase, no periods. Not A.M. or am.
B
backend
One word. Avoid using if you can use a more specific term like server, database, and so on.
back up, backup
Two words as a verb. One word as a noun or adjective.
Do this: Back up your info to a secure backup location.
bi-, semi-
Bi means every two (i.e. bimonthly means every two months). Semi means half or halfway (i.e. semimonthly means twice in a month). Both terms can easily cause confusion, so it is recommended to write out the actual time frame.
Do this: Email reminders will be sent every two weeks.
Not this: Email reminders will be sent biweekly.*
browser
There is no need to add the word web as in web browser.
Do this: The link will open a new browser window.
C
canceled, canceling, cancellation
Use canceled with one "l." Although both spellings are correct, we use the more common American spelling of canceled.
checkbox
One word.
check in, check-in
Use two words as a verb phrase. Hyphenate as a noun or adjective.
Do this: Please check in at the airport.
Do this: If you have any check-in fees, you can list them on your Expense Report.
check out, checkout
Use two words as a verb phrase. Use a single word as a noun or adjective.
Do this: When you check out of your hotel, you should receive a final bill.
Do this: You’ll be asked for payment information during the checkout process.
choose
Use choose instead of select when asking the user to make a choice between two or more items in the UI. (For buttons, see click.) Rather than using two different words that mean the same thing (choose or select), we use choose because it is the more naturally conversational of the two.
click, select
Use click as the action word for buttons and links. Don’t use click on. Don’t use the phrase click here as a link - links should always be specific as to the action or the destination. Even though terms such as tap or touch may be more specific to mobile platforms, users normally understand the equivalent action that they must take when asked to click.
Concur Support
Concur Support, not Technical Support or SAP Concur Support.
country
Use the term country and/or region. More information is available in the Global Perspective section.
CTE, CT&E
Do not use. Refer to the full product name (i.e. Expense).
D
data, information
Use data to refer to raw input or unfiltered text and numeric values. In an effort to use less formal language, avoid using the term data where info or information would work. Use the term data for both singular and plural noun forms, but always use with a singular verb (data is, not data are).
deselect, unselect
Use deselect as a verb to describe the user’s action cancelling a selection. Use unselect as an adjective to describe the status of a selection.
Example: “If you deselect the checkbox ‘Remember my username,’ it will remain unselected until you change it.”
detail, details
Use detail when referring to a single detail. Use details when referring to more than one detail.
Do this: "View Details" as a link to view additional information.
disable, enable
See on, off.
disabled
Use disabled, not dimmed, grayed-out, or inactive to describe a UI control in an unavailable or read-only state.
download, upload
Use upload and download when it makes more sense to say the file itself (rather than the contents of the file) is being transferred. Also see export, import.
Do this: Upload a PNG or JPG file for your Profile photo.
E
No hyphen. Do not capitalize unless it’s the first word in a sentence or UI element. It’s OK to use as a verb or a noun. As a UI label, use Email instead of Email Address.
e-receipt, E-Receipt
e-receipt in a sentence or E-Receipt in a title. There is never a case where they are not same-cased.
enable, disable
See on, off.
Expense, expense, Invoice, invoice, Request, request
Use uppercase if referring to the product; lowercase if referring to the object itself, such as an expense in a report.
Do this: Delete the expense from your report.
Do this: Click Expense in the top navigation area to create an Expense Report.
export, import
Use import and export when it makes more sense to say the contents of a file (rather than the file itself) are being transferred or converted from one form to another. Also see download, upload.
Do this: Import users by uploading your spreadsheet.
F
G
H
I
import
See export, import. Also see download, upload.
in, on
Use on to refer to a page or window. Use in to refer to a modal, form, report, table, or field. If referring to the active tab, use on. If referring to an inactive tab, use in.
Do this: Please correct any errors in your Expense Report.
info, information
It’s OK to use either term depending on space and tone. Also see data.
Internet, internet
Capitalize as a noun; lowercase as an adjective.
Do this: Use your browser to access SAP Concur on the Internet.
Do this: Here are some internet resources.
J
K
L
line item, line-item
Two words as a noun. Hyphenated as an adjective.
login, log in
Do not use. Use sign in instead.
M
Must
Avoid. Use need to sparingly if informing the user a certain action must be performed. Our tone is to avoid ordering the user to do something or placing blame on them. This issue arises often in error messages. Try to use the requirement as the subject of the sentence, not the user.
Do this: A receipt image is required.
Not this: You must attach a receipt image.
my, your
Use your, not my, to address items belonging to the user in the UI. See you. Be conversational, not robotic, but don’t overuse by referring to everything as the user’s in the UI.
Do this: Your email verification has been sent.
Not this: Email verification sent.
N
O
OK
Always use all caps. Not Ok, ok or okay.
on, in
See in, on.
on, off
On or off are preferred over enabled and disabled as they are more naturally conversational. If used as a verb in UI, say turn on or turn off rather than enable or disable. If used as a UI label (state of a control or service), use On or Off.
oops
Do not use oops as the result of either a system error or user-initiated action. Oops is too light-hearted for our tone. Use sorry.
opt-in, opt-out
Always hyphenated.
P
PIN
As shown. PIN is an acceptable in the UI as an acronym for personal identification number.
please
Please is appropriate but be aware that overuse can come across as insincere.
PM
Uppercase, no periods. Not P.M. or pm.
plugin
One word as a noun, no hyphen.
Q
R
requester
As shown. Not requestor.
S
see
Use see not view in the UI when used in instructions. When used in a control, such as "View Options", view is preferred.
see more
Don’t use see more in the UI. See show more, show less.
select
Use select if you are asking the user to select something that once selected, stays selected, such as a radio button. Otherwise, consider using choose instead.
setup, set up
1 word as a noun, 2 words as a verb or adjective.
Do this: Set up your new users.
Or this: You can revisit setup at any time.
show more, show less
When indicating text or other information has been truncated, or allowing the user to switch between a more and less view, use show more or **show less.
sign in, sign-in, sign out, sign-out
Use Sign In when referring to the page. Use sign in when referring to the process. Use sign in as a verb phrase.
Do not use login, log in, logout, or log out.
Do this: Go to the Sign-In page and sign in.
show
Preferred term. Don’t use display if show works.
Do this: The graph shows how much budget you have left.
Not this: The graph displays how much budget you have left.
site
As shown. Use site, not web site.
sorry
Our preferred apology. Use sparingly. Overuse can erode trust in us and our products. Sorry is acceptable in cases where we should empathize with a user who encounters an error condition that is no fault of their own. Do not use in cases of field validation.
Do this: Sorry, we weren’t able to load your search results.
Not this: Sorry, you need to enter an amount.
T
they
You may use the singular they to refer to users, administrators, etc.
Do this: The administrator can update their profile on the Profile page.
Not this: his,hers
till
Do not use. Use until instead.
turn on, turn off
Use instead of enable or disable when describing the action of activating or deactivating features or settings. Also see on, off.
U
unselect
See deselect, unselect.
upload
See download, upload. Also see export, import.
username
One word as shown. Not user name.
UK
Abbreviated form of United Kingdom. As shown. No periods.
until, till
Use until, not till.
US
Abbreviated form of United States. As shown. No periods.
V
via
Don’t use. Use through or by instead.
view
Don’t use view in the UI. Use see instead.
view more
Don’t use view more in the UI. See show more, show less.
W
web, World Wide Web
As shown. Capitalize the full form World Wide Web. Lowercase the shortened form web. In most cases, we use the more casual, shortened form web, unless emphasizing as a proper noun.
website
As shown. One word, lowercase, no hyphen.
Wi-Fi
Always hyphenate and use an uppercase "W" and "F."
X
Y
you, your
Use the second person when referring to the user. Use you and your. In most cases, "you" is an implied subject, meaning we don’t write it out in the UI.
Do this: Your email address has been verified.
Do this: Create an expense report.
Z
ZIP code
As shown. ZIP is all uppercase letters followed by the word code. Use this for US English. In other countries, postal code is the correct term.