Our preferred style and usage for common terms and phrases
Grammar and usage
Global considerations
Unbiased language
Naming and terminology
New! Visit the Citrix Glossary for product, feature and concept definitions.
Avoid. Use cancel or stop.
Do not use to mean earlier. Use previous or preceding.
Avoid. Use all right.
Use only as a verb to indicate one and then the other. Otherwise, use alternative.
Alternate between red and green in the pattern.
Find an alternative method.
Generally, use American spelling and phrasing, not British.
Use the color picker to customize your settings.
Not like this
Use the colour picker to customise your settings.
You may use British English for internal and external communications that will be distributed in the UK.
Don't use this construction. It may take an extra sentence to present both the "and" and the "or" scenarios, but it's better for readability and translation.
Use only when you can't avoid it or if there are space constraints.
ampersand (&)
Use only when space is limited, such as for tab labels or screen titles, or when the content is improved by its use.
Originally specific to mobile apps, this term can now be used to refer to applications of all kinds, including enterprise and SaaS apps. It's also appropriate to refer to an enterprise app store, which provides self-service provisioning.
appear, display
Use appear as an intransitive verb, which means it doesn't need an object.
Use display as a transitive verb, which means it does something to something. It has to be followed by an object.
If necessary in context, you can use the passive phrase is displayed, but avoid this when explaining the consequences of a procedure step.
If you exit the program, a message appears.
The management console displays the Settings dialog box.
The Settings dialog box is displayed.
Don't use bring up.
This displays the Settings dialog box.
This brings up the Settings dialog box.
Don't use to convey a cause and effect. Use because instead. It's OK to use as in other contexts.
as long as
Avoid. Use provided that or if.
back-end (adj.), back end (n.)
First try to use a more specific term, like server or network. Hyphenate when used as an adjective.
Back-end system
When used as a noun, it's two words with no hyphen.
The admin configured settings on the back end.
backup (n., adj.), back up (v.)
One word as a noun or adjective; two words as a verb.
When you back up one screen, the software automatically creates a backup.
Do not use to mean later. Use following instead.
Avoid. Use preview instead. Beta is an ambiguous term that carries negative connotations with incomplete, buggy software that's still being tested. We avoid this term at Citrix because our software should not be associated with risk of any kind.
Also see entry for preview.
black box, white box
Avoid. For black box, use behavioral testing, invisible box testing, aided testing, testing hidden structure, or hidden structure testing instead.
For white box, use transparent box testing, visible box testing, unaided testing, testing observable structure​, or Observable structure testing instead.
black hat, gray hat, white hat
Avoid. For black and gray hat, use malicious actor or bad actor instead. For white hat, use vulnerability tester or security tester instead.
blacklist, whitelist
Avoid. For blacklist, use block list (two words; use as a noun, not a verb) instead. For white list, use allow list (two words; use as a noun, not a verb) instead.
Use bold sparingly to call out UI elements and labels or to add emphasis to important words. Don't use italics or quotation marks. Place the bold emphasis on the action word you want the user to take.
To set up your account, click Start and then Continue.
boot, reboot
Don't use as a verb. Use turn on and turn off or start and restart. For technical audiences, while it's OK to use boot as an adjective, like boot sequence, we prefer you use startup.
Avoid. Use self-healing, resilient, failure-resistant, or secure instead.
Don't use when referring to a button.
Click the OK button
When a button has an ellipsis after it (meaning that it leads to another dialog), omit the ellipsis when referring to the button (Click Configure rather than Click Configure…).
Abbreviation for bring your own device. Spell out on first reference in body copy. Use hyphens when the phrase is used as an adjective.
The company's bring-your-own-device policy created more flexibility for employees.
can, could; may, might
Use the verb can to describe actions or tasks that the user or program is able to do. Use may only to express possibility, not to imply that the user has permission to do something. Use might to connote more doubt than may or when may could be interpreted to imply permission.
You can use this option to force a black-and-white screen display.
You may use this option to force a black-and-white screen display.
In general, avoid could; it's seldom necessary.
Two words.
Use select and clear with check boxes (not turn on/turn off, tick/untick, mark/unmark, check/uncheck, or select/deselect).
Always use check box, not just box, to refer to this option because box alone is ambiguous for localization.
Use choose when the user has a choice or option.
From the Color menu, choose the color you want.
Don't use click.
Also see select.
Citrix Cloud
Citrix Cloud is a platform that hosts and administers Citrix services. Only capitalize cloud use when referring to the platform itself.
Citrix Cloud allows you to create, manage, and deploy workspaces from a single console.
Citrix Cloud delivers virtual apps and desktops.
Also see Citrix cloud services.
Citrix cloud services
Citrix cloud services refer to the option to purchase and deploy Citrix products as cloud services. The term does not refer to Citrix Cloud. Don't capitalize cloud services. When talking about a product or service, use the product or service's branded name. Lowercase service unless it's part of the branded name.
Also see Citrix Cloud.
Citrix Partner
Capitalize when referring to an official Citrix Partner designation or program, and always include Citrix. We prefer to use the official designation whenever possible, but if there are multiple subsequent references, it's OK to lowercase partner and speak more generally. Don't capitalize partner on its own.
Company ABC is a certified Citrix Partner.
At Citrix, we appreciate all our partners.
Partner or Citrix partner
Avoid. Because this will no longer a branded name for a bundle of our products after July 2022, use only when speaking directly to customers who have purchased a Citrix Workspace SKU.​ Use new product package names, general solution categories (DaaS, app delivery and security, work solutions), general terms like Citrix solutions, or the names of individual technologies.​​
Customers can use Citrix DaaS, app delivery and security, and work solutions to deliver digital workspaces to their end users.​
Not like this​
Customers can use Citrix Workspace to deliver digital workspaces to their end users.
See the full guidance for workspace-related terms here.
Citrix Workspace app
Lowercase app. Don't omit Citrix or app. Use to refer to the interface end users interact with to access their work resources. Don't refer to the app as a product someone can buy.​
Like this​
Citrix Workspace app​
Workspace App
Citrix workspace platform
Lowercase.​ Use to describe the full value of the Citrix portfolio​. Use sparingly; reserve usage for when you're referring to the full breadth of what we offer at a company or vision level​. Don't use to refer to any specific product, service, bundle, or capability. Use alternatives like Citrix solutions and the Citrix portfolio when talking at a product level. Because it's an unbranded term, it's OK to speak generically with phrases like our workspace platform.
Citrix workspace platform (first reference)
Our workspace platform (subsequent references)​​
With the Citrix workspace platform, you can deliver the unified secure digital workspaces you need to enable hybrid work.
​The Citrix workspace platform is the most complete digital workspace solution.
​​See the full guidance for workspace-related terms here.
Use clear for check boxes; do not use turn off, unmark, uncheck, or deselect.
Also see check box and select.
Avoid click for anything other than when referring to specific mouse actions. Instead, use words that work for multiple devices, such as select.
Also see choose.
cloud (n., adj.), the cloud (n.)
Lowercase. This is also true for cloud era.
co-
Don't hyphenate words beginning with co- unless they are listed that way in the American Heritage Dictionary.
comprise; comprises; composed of
Avoid. Use includes.
Our voice encourages the use of contractions for a conversational tone. Avoid unusual noun/verb contractions and other uncommon contractions that are difficult to localize.
Don't take our word for it. Try Citrix Workspace for 90 days.
Your upload'll get started when your update's finished.
Capitalize all letters.
Avoid. Use fail for hardware and disks or stop responding for programs or the operating system. In content for a technical audience, crash may be the best word in certain circumstances, but avoid whenever possible.
cyber-
Don't hyphenate words that begin with cyber, such as cybersecurity and cyberattack.
One word.
An example, presentation, or illustration to show how either a full product or part of a product works. Don't use demo when referring to a trial. Use trial when referring to a pre-purchase product experience.
Avoid. Use want or require.
Lowercase and not hyphenated. Spell out on first reference. The same is true for software as a service (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS).
dialog, dialog box, dialogue
In general, it's best practice to talk about user actions instead or UI elements. Only use dialog box when referring to the dialog box itself. Don't shorten to dialog, and don't use dialogue box or pop-up window.
Lowercase. Use to describe any digital environment people use to get work done. Don't use to describe a product, service, or bundle.​
Like this:​
Organizations of all sizes use Citrix solutions to deliver digital workspaces to their end users.​
Not like this:​
Organizations of all sizes use the Citrix Digital Workspace to deliver digital workspaces to their end users.
Avoid. Use completed or finished.
Hyphenated. Also right-click, left-click.
earlier, lower
Use earlier, not lower, when referring to a previously released version of software. You also can use preceding or previous.
Citrix Endpoint Management 20.7.0 and earlier
Citrix Endpoint Management 20.7.0 and lower
Avoid. Use preview.
Lowercase and hyphenated.
Avoid. Use for example.
One word; no hyphen.
end-user computing
Hyphenate. Do not use EUC as an acronym.
enter, type
It's OK to use enter when instructing the user to type their password or choose a selection from a dialog box.
Avoid. Use start, run, or issue.
failover (n., adj.); fail over (v.)
Failover allows virtual machines on a failed server to fail over to a healthy server without disruption.
Avoid. Use unrecoverable.
field, box
Don't use label to refer to a box. Use box or label of the box.
file extension, file name extension
Use file name extension or just extension. Precede a file name extension with a period. Use the article (a or an) that applies to the sound of the first letter of the extension, as though the period (or "dot") is not pronounced, as in a .doc file and an .exe file.
Don't use to refer to other countries. Use the country's name instead.
front-end (adj.), front end (n.)
Hyphenate when used as an adjective. Two words as a noun. Avoid when writing for an end-user audience. Instead, use more specific terms they understand, like app or program.
Abbreviation for gigabit. Don't spell out.
Abbreviation for gigabyte. Don't spell out.
Avoid. Use exempt instead.
gray, grayed, grayed out
Avoid. Focus instead on the action you want the user to take. Use unavailable or dimmed. Use shaded if you need to describe the appearance of check boxes with portions of a larger selection that are already selected.
hack, hacker
Avoid for general audiences because of negative connotations. Use malicious actor to refer to an unauthorized user who accesses a system with the intent to cause harm. If the unauthorized user's intent isn't known or isn't malicious, use unauthorized user.
It's OK to use hack or hacker if you're speaking to a developer audience or when a positive outcome is involved, such as a hackathon.
hang, hung
Avoid. Use stop or stopped.
No space before the 5.
Two words. Only hyphenate when used as a modifier: hybrid-cloud infrastructure. Don't use to mean multi-cloud.
Link the actionable phrase using sentence-case capitalization and a clear call to action.
To learn more, visit the Citrix Web and UX Guidelines page.
Avoid idioms because they can be confusing to some readers and don't translate well.
Avoid. Use that is or in other words.
Lowercase.
Acronym for internet protocol. Don't spell out. Don't use when referring to intellectual property if the content also includes references to IP addresses.
its, it's
It's is the contraction of it is. Its is a possessive adjective, like his, her, or your.
It's the first time the company has raised its guidance.
intelligent workspace
It's OK to use intelligent workspace when speaking generically. However, don't add intelligent to the Citrix Workspace product name. Use Citrix Workspace with intelligent features or Citrix Workspace with intelligence. Don't use Citrix Intelligent Workspace or IWS for Citrix Workspace.
justify, justified
Don't use as a synonym for aligned. Justified text is both left-aligned and right-aligned. To describe alignment on one margin only, use left-aligned or right-aligned, not left-justified or right-justified.
Abbreviation for kilobyte. Don't spell out.
Avoid. Use end or stop.
Avoid. Use start.
log on, log off
Avoid. Use sign in and sign out. Don't use log in, login, log into, log on, logon, log onto, log off, log out, logout, or a similar term unless it appears in the UI and you're writing instructions.
Also see sign in/sign out.
machine, computer
In content for most audiences, don't use machine to refer to a computer. Use computer instead. It's all right to use machine in content for a technical audience and in content about virtualization to describe both physical machines and virtual machines.
master, slave
Avoid. Use main and secondary or subordinate.
master table
Avoid. Use primary table.
Abbreviation for megabit. Don't spell out.
Abbreviation for megabyte. Don't spell out.
Abbreviation for megahertz. Don't spell out.
In general, don't hyphenate words that begin with micro- unless it's necessary to avoid confusion. If you can't find the word in the American Heritage Dictionary, use multiple before the word instead. Don't create new words by combining them with micro-.
microapp
Lowercase. One word; no hyphen. When referring to our microapp builder, describe it as low code.
Our microapp builder is a low-code tool.
Our microapp builder is a no-code tool.
mouse actions
In general, don't talk about mouse actions. Instead, talk about user actions in the UI.
Use hover over or point to when describing moving the mouse pointer over an area without clicking.
Use click, not click on.
Always hyphenate double-click and right-click.
Avoid mice as a plural. Use mouse devices.
In general, don't hyphenate words that begin with multi- unless it's necessary to avoid confusion or if multi- is followed by a proper noun. If you can't find the word in the American Heritage Dictionary, use multiple before the word instead. Don't create new words by combining them with multi-.
Also see multi-cloud.
Lowercase. Hyphenate as a noun and an adjective. Don't use to mean hybrid cloud.
Spell out numbers zero through nine; use figures for 10 and above. Use a figure to represent million, billion, and trillion.
There are 12 admins but only four licenses.
Increase annual revenue by $1 million.
Always use a figure for numbers in headlines. Also see "Headlines" in the grammar section.
4 ways Citrix Workspace helps you deliver a better employee experience
Use OK everywhere, including button labels. Don't use Ok, ok, or Okay.
once, after
Don't use once to mean after in phrases like once you have finished. Use after you have finished.
on premises, on-premises
Don't hyphenate when used as an adverb.
The software was installed on premises.
Hyphenate when used as an adjective.
The on-premises deployment
Don't use on prem or on-prem unless you're speaking in a casual context, like social media, or if there are space constraints.
Avoid. Use however or alternatively.
Use as an adjective only. Always hyphenate.
Open-source tools
over, more than
Use over to refer to a position or location above something. For example, A red line appears over the diagram.
Use more than for quantities.
There are more than 10 desktops assigned to this user.
There are over 10 desktops assigned to this user.
pinch, stretch
Use pinch to indicate zooming in and stretch to indicate zooming out.
please, thank you
Don't overuse, especially in the UI. Use please only in situations where you're asking someone to do something inconvenient or when the software is at fault. Use thank you when you're asking someone to provide information that's inconvenient or difficult to get.
Lowercase. Always hyphenated.
A limited version of a product released to a special audience before the official launch. A preview is stable and provides a good overview of the full release but may not have all planned features in place. Use as a label for an early product release.
Citrix SD-WAN 11.2 Preview
Don't use technical preview, tech preview, early release, beta, evaluation, or eval.
Also see beta, demo, and trial.
proof of concept (POC)
A demonstration, prototype, or use of a product with the purpose of verifying its real-world application. People often use a proof of concept to test whether the product can meet their specific requirements, such as unique integrations. In some cases, when the customer decides to purchase the product, the proof of concept is transitioned into the post-purchase environment.
Spell out on first use; no hyphens. Don't overuse the acronym to avoid confusion with point of contact.
The plural form is proofs of concept.
Don't use trial to refer to a proof of concept.
Also see trial.
If an option is strongly recommended, add (recommended) to the label.
Update automatically (recommended).
Don't use remove in place of delete. Use remove when the item is being removed from a group or container and is still available to put into other groups or containers.
(s) or /s to indicate possible plural
Avoid. Use the plural form instead.
The error messages
Select the sites you want to monitor.
The error message(s)
Select the site/s you want to monitor.
Use select for check boxes and when instructing the user to select an item, like text, objects, or cells.
Also see entry for check box.
setup, set up
Two words as a verb, one word as a noun or adjective.
Use the setup option. [adjective]
She was successful with her setup. [noun]
Set up your account. [verb]
sign in, sign out
Use sign in and sign out to refer to creating and ending a session on a computer, device, network, app, or anywhere a user name and password are required. Use sign out to refer to ending a session.
Don't use log in, login, log into, log on, logon, log onto, log off, log out, logout, sign into, signin, signoff, sign off, or sign on unless these terms appear in the UI and you're writing instructions.
You sign in to (not sign into) a session.
Use connect, make a connection, and similar phrases to refer to the act of physically attaching a computer to a network, whether intranet or internet.
Use sign on only as part of the term single sign-on (SSO). The user action is still signing in, even though the technology is called single sign-on.
Use sign off only informally to refer to getting approval.
Use sign up to refer to enrolling in a service.
Hyphenate these terms only when they are used as adjectives.
Type your sign-in information.
You can sign up for the service by filling in the following information.
since, because
Don't use since to mean because. Use because to refer to a reason and since to refer to a passage of time.
Don't use a comma before because.
Lowercase. Hyphenate sign-on. Hyphenate all three words when used as a modifier: A single-sign-on solution.
Lowercase and not hyphenated. Spell out on first reference. The same is true for desktops as a service (DaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS). In general, we are trying to move toward cloud-based as a descriptor for this type of service, but SaaS remains in common use.
Use sorry only in situations that cause serious problems for the user, such as data loss or when the user can't continue to use the computer. Don't apologize for normal operations of the program.
Sorry, but your computer detected an unrecoverable error and must shut down. Any unsaved data will be lost.
Sorry, but you need to type your user name and password to sign in.
Use to indicate a swift motion a user makes on a touchscreen device to scroll.
Abbreviation for synchronize. Use when space is limited or when the content is improved by its use. Do not use synch.
Sync your device now.
Acronym for total cost of ownership. Spell out on first use. Avoid using as generic marketing jargon (for example, reduce TCO) without providing additional context.
tech preview
they, them, their
Use these plural constructions, rather than he or she, to be gender-neutral in the UI.
If a user asks if they can reset their password, direct them to the website.
If a user asks if he or she can reset his or her password, direct him or her to the website.
thin client (n.), thin-client (adj.)
Two words when used as a noun. Hyphenate when used as an adjective.
Use a thin client to access the system.
A trial is like a proof of concept in that it's a package of software that you can install, load, or interact with, typically to determine if you want to buy the product. Trials are not usually modified with specific requirements or configurations. Use proof of concept when referring to situations that require unique modifications.
If someone is not going to directly drive the experience, ensure that you appropriately set expectations with descriptions that clearly indicate an intermediary, such as assisted trial.
Don't use demo or test drive to refer to a trial.
Also see proof of concept.
Use only when speaking to a technical audience. In higher-level marketing materials, use people, workers, or employees. In end-user-facing materials, use you.
Abbreviation for virtual desktop infrastructure. Refers to desktops hosted on premises, in the cloud, or delivered as a service (desktops as a service, or DaaS). Spell out on first reference.
Avoid. Use access, along, by, from, on, using, or through.
videoconference, videoconferencing
Both are one word.
Web, web, website
Uppercase web only when following the UI or feature names and when it's part of the official name of a system or organization. Lowercase all instances of web as a modifier.
Follow this additional guidance from the Microsoft Manual of Style:
The following terms that include web are one word:
The following terms that include web are hyphenated:
web-centric
web-enabled
The following terms that include web are two words:
web document
web folder
web part
Two words. Hyphenated.
Use only to refer to something occurring in time. Don't use while as a conjunction or as a synonym for although, whereas, or despite.
Your content is loading. Check back in a little while.
white-labeling
Avoid. Use brand removal or brand replacement instead.
whitespace account
Avoid. Use greenfield account.
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark and proper noun.
Wifi, wifi, wi-fi
Avoid. Use want.
work, works
Avoid. Use supports or compatible with.
workspace platform
See Citrix workspace platform.
Omit as part of a URL unless the link won't work without it.
Citrix.com
www.Citrix.com
Do not use an x to mean by.
you, your, we, our
Our voice dictates that we use first- and second-person pronouns to create a conversational tone. Use them to speak directly to your reader.
Two words. No hyphen.
Zero-trust security
Short for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Spell out in most situations. If you have space constraints, a slash is acceptable for the abbreviated form.