IT Services Word Usage List

For correct naming/capitalization/spacing for a particular product, vendor or campus office, refer to their official web presence or app. 
Notable exceptions: UNIX should be written as Unix and LISTSERV should be written as Listserv (per AP style).

  • 2D, 3D
  • add-on
  • after-hours (preceding adjective); after hours (prepositional phrase)
    Example: Our after-hours lab is open after hours.
  • antivirus (see Symantec for more)
  • auto-route, auto-update
  • backup (noun or adjective), back up (verb) 
    Example: Back up your files so that you will have a backup.
  • -based (hyphenate words combined with "-based," i.e., cloud-based, text-based)
  • birth date
  • Bits 'n Bytes:
    • 1GB, 1Gb (no space)
    • GB= Gigabyte (storage)
    • Gb=Gigabit (transfer rate/bandwidth)
      (Same rules apply to MB and Mb)
    • 64-bit; 32-bit
  • campuswide, universitywide, statewide
  • case-sensitive
  • CC (noun), cc (verb), cc’d, cc’ing
  • chat room
  • check box (noun)
  • check mark
  • checkout (noun or adjective), check out (verb) 
    Example: You can check out items during checkout time.
  • client-side
  • co-locate (not colocate or co locate)
  • cross-platform
  • cybersecurity
  • Data Center
  • dialog box
  • double-click
  • drag-and-drop (adjective), drag and drop (verb) 
    Example: The user should drag and drop when in a drag-and-drop environment.
  • drop-down (noun or adjective), drop down (verb) 
    Example: The drop-down menu will drop down.
  • e.g."for example" (see i.e.)
  • effect (noun); affect (verb)
  • email (no hyphen)
  • end user (noun); end-user (adj)
  • FAQ, FAQs
  • fax
  • file extensions are uppercase: EXE, XLS, PDF, JPG, etc.
  • filename
  • fine-tune
  • first come, first served
  • first-person (adjective)
  • follow-up (adjective), follow up (verb)
    Example: You should follow up the meeting with a follow-up meeting.
  • full-time (adjective), full time (adverb)
    Example: She works full time at a full-time job.
  • hands-free
  • hands-on (adjective)
  • hard drive
  • high-end
  • high-speed
  • high-tech
  • homegrown
  • home page
  • i.e."that is" (see e.g.)
  • in-house
  • internet (lowercase)
  • layout (noun or adjective), lay out (verb)
    Example: Lay out the web page so that the layout works.
  • login (noun or adjective), log in (verb) 
    Example: Use your login to log into your account.
  • logout (noun or adjective), log out (verb) 
    Example: When users log out of the system, they will see the logout screen.
  • lowercase
  • mouseover (noun, adjective), mouse over (verb)
    Example: A mouseover event allows the user to mouse over the text for more information.
  • multimedia (not a proper noun)
  • on-site
  • off-campus (adjective), off campus (prepositional phrase)
  • on-campus (adjective), on campus (prepositional phrase)
    Example: He lives on campus because on-campus housing is cheaper.
  • off-topic (adjective), off topic (prepositional phrase)
    Example: The off-topic conversation was off topic.
  • on-demand (adjective), on demand (prepositional phrase)
    Example: On-demand learning is available on demand.
  • one-on-one
  • online
  • on-screen (adjective), on screen (prepositional phrase)
    Example: The on-screen help images can be seen on screen.
  • open-source (adjective), open source (noun)
    Example: This open-source software uses code that is open source.
  • part-time (adjective), part time (adverb)
    Example: She works part time at a part-time job.
  • pickup (noun or adjective), pick up(verb) 
    Example: Pick up your ID during ID pickup.
  • plug-in
  • pop-up (noun or adjective), pop up (verb) 
    Example: A pop-up window will pop up on your screen.
  • postproduction
  • print job
  • printout
  • read-only
  • real-time (adjective), real time(noun)
    Example: Their real-time support is in real time.
  • right-click
  • rollout (noun or adjective), roll out (verb) 
    Example: We will roll out the new software on the rollout date.
  • screenshot
  • setup (noun or adjective), set up(verb) 
    Example: Read the setup instructions to set up the application.
  • smartphone
  • Social Security number (SSN)
  • spam
  • spell-check
  • stand-alone
  • subdirectory
  • text-only (adjective)
  • third-person
  • time-out (noun or adjective), time out (verb)
    Example: If the time-out limit is too short, your session might time out.
  • toolbar
  • troubleshooting
  • turnaround (noun or adjective), turn around (verb) 
  • up-to-date
  • uppercase
  • user-friendly
  • username (lowercase)
  • videoconferencing
  • voicemail
  • walk-ins
  • web 
  • webcam
  • webcast
  • webmaster
  • website; web page
  • Wi-Fi (always capitalized with hyphen)
    • UARK Wi-Fi
    • UARK Guest Wi-Fi
    • UARK Registered
  • widespread
  • workaround
  • workspace
  • workstation
  • workweek