6 ms·

Technically, they're both wrong. Button labels should be verbs. The Cancel - Open example from OS X is the right way to do a dialog box.

tridentlead 8y ago
Not really, Ok can be a verb. You can “Ok” a change.
- jarcoal 8y ago
  Technically, but it doesn’t tell you much about what you’re doing. Having the action be more descriptive allows users to act more quickly.
- personjerry 8y ago
  In that context "Ok" is merely a euphemism for "Accept", which would probably be a better label
  - DonHopkins 8y ago
    At least it's not "Submit", which is just oppressive and demeaning. "Approve" would be more active and positive.
    - pwg 8y ago
      In all fairness, the "Submit" button in standard HTML is using the second definition of "Submit", not the first: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submit https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submit 1 a : to yield to governance or authority b : to subject to a condition, treatment, or operation * the metal was submitted to analysis 2 : to present or propose to another for review, consideration, or decision; also : to deliver formally * submitted my resignation 3 : to put forward as an opinion or contention * we submit that the charge is not proved It (the "Submit" button) is "present[ing]" (or "deliver[ing]") the form data field contents to the server. And in fact, myself, until I read your comment, never even considered the word in the context of the "yield" definition due to how it operates.
- JonathonW 8y ago
  "Ok" for a change (that's described in the body of the dialog's text) is... okay, I suppose. But it's better to mirror the action verb for your confirmation button, because users don't necessarily read the text you present them with. So, instead of this: Delete xyz.jpg? -------------------------- The file 'xyz.jpg' will be permanently deleted. -------------------------- [ OK ] [ Cancel ] You have: Delete xyz.jpg? -------------------------- The file 'xyz.jpg' will be permanently deleted. -------------------------- [ Delete ] [ Cancel ] And you get one more chance for the user to see what action they're about to perform. There's very good, detailed guidance on this in the Windows design guidelines (the design-specific aspects are a bit dated since everything there refers to Vista/7-era UI elements, but their guidance on text and dialog styles is still applicable): Text: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742476(v=vs.85).aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn7... Dialog Boxes: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742499(v=vs.85).aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn7...
  - StavrosK 8y ago
    Yes, precisely. The worst UI I've ever seen was: "Cancel this action?" "Yes" "Cancel" Seriously?!
    - lucb1e 8y ago
      If you get lucky, it has a window close button on the right top as a safe way out. If you're unlucky... better have that power cable in reach.
      - 0xfeba 8y ago
        Reminds me of this gem from Microsoft: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/05/24/171215/windows-10-upgrade-activates-by-clicking-red-x-close-button-in-prompt-message https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/05/24/171215/windows-10-u... > In a move guaranteed to annoy many people, Microsoft has "jumped the shark" on encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft has faced criticism for changing the pop-up box encouraging Windows users to upgrade to Windows 10. Clicking the red cross on the right hand corner of the pop-up box now activates the upgrade instead of closing the box.
- Someone 8y ago
  In English, you can verb any noun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_(word_formation)#Verb_conversion_in_English https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_(word_formation)#Ve..., https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/01/25 https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/01/25)
  - _emacsomancer_ 8y ago
    One can verb nouns in lots of languages, English just happens to have "0-derivation" verbing of nouns ("photoshopped the picture", "googled Dan"). As well as "0-derivation" nouning of verbs ('did the user submit an "ok" or a "cancel"?').
- Terr_ 8y ago
  > Ok can be a verb My gut feeling is that when written as a verb, it should always be the longer form, ex: "I will okay it, like I okayed the last one." I believe it's from the same writing-sense that intuits "I have three main points" as superior to "I have 3 main points."
klodolph 8y ago
Maybe you forgot to read the article? All of the (non-obsolete) screenshots of Factorio have verbs, except for "Back", which is pretty clear to me.
- psychometry 8y ago
  No, I read the article. That's how I was able to directly quote an example of a dialog where not all of the buttons are verbs.
jimmaswell 8y ago
>Button labels should be verbs. According to who? Why? I've never heard this before and it doesn't sound like a remotely necessary rule.
- kchr 8y ago
  Because verbs are actionable.
janci 8y ago
As andoid camera delete confirm does: [Cancel][Delete] Translated to my locale: [Zrušiť][Zrušiť] Verbs can be wery (un)helpful.
udkyo 8y ago
It's awkward sometimes. AWX: "Are you sure you want to cancel? Cancel/Proceed" e.g. Cancel cancelling / proceed to cancel. To me, that always seemed like a place where a simple "Yes/No" would be more appropriate.
- johnp_ 8y ago
  Proceed seems to be the wrong verb here, as that dialog looks like it appeared after clicking a cancel button, and if I don't want to cancel I "return" to the previous screen where my data still is and don't "proceed" to somewhere.
  - udkyo 8y ago
    That's what cancel does - you click proceed when you want to cancel. If cancelling isn't what you want, you simply click the button labelled "Cancel" Clear as mud, right?
    - tallship 8y ago
      Well years ago at a convention I came across a little company that made Key caps out of Tempe, Arizona. I bought a couple of bags of just two keys. Red panic buttons "Panic", and, "Any" keys. We replaced the escape key cap with those when we sold new systems. The "Any" key was a big hit and quite popular with the n00bs back in those AT (286) days. I think I may still have a few of those around lolz.
- oneeyedpigeon 8y ago
  I agree, but what's the use-case for such a dialog in the first place?
  - cm2187 8y ago
    If there is a cancel button for a long running expensive operation it sounds like a good idea to confirm the cancellation. Or if you are half way through paying for your cart, the merchant should check you really meant to press cancel.

tridentlead 8y ago

Not really, Ok can be a verb. You can “Ok” a change.

jarcoal 8y ago
Technically, but it doesn’t tell you much about what you’re doing. Having the action be more descriptive allows users to act more quickly.
personjerry 8y ago
In that context "Ok" is merely a euphemism for "Accept", which would probably be a better label
- DonHopkins 8y ago
  At least it's not "Submit", which is just oppressive and demeaning. "Approve" would be more active and positive.
  - pwg 8y ago
    In all fairness, the "Submit" button in standard HTML is using the second definition of "Submit", not the first: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submit https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submit 1 a : to yield to governance or authority b : to subject to a condition, treatment, or operation * the metal was submitted to analysis 2 : to present or propose to another for review, consideration, or decision; also : to deliver formally * submitted my resignation 3 : to put forward as an opinion or contention * we submit that the charge is not proved It (the "Submit" button) is "present[ing]" (or "deliver[ing]") the form data field contents to the server. And in fact, myself, until I read your comment, never even considered the word in the context of the "yield" definition due to how it operates.
JonathonW 8y ago
"Ok" for a change (that's described in the body of the dialog's text) is... okay, I suppose. But it's better to mirror the action verb for your confirmation button, because users don't necessarily read the text you present them with. So, instead of this: Delete xyz.jpg? -------------------------- The file 'xyz.jpg' will be permanently deleted. -------------------------- [ OK ] [ Cancel ] You have: Delete xyz.jpg? -------------------------- The file 'xyz.jpg' will be permanently deleted. -------------------------- [ Delete ] [ Cancel ] And you get one more chance for the user to see what action they're about to perform. There's very good, detailed guidance on this in the Windows design guidelines (the design-specific aspects are a bit dated since everything there refers to Vista/7-era UI elements, but their guidance on text and dialog styles is still applicable): Text: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742476(v=vs.85).aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn7... Dialog Boxes: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742499(v=vs.85).aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn7...
- StavrosK 8y ago
  Yes, precisely. The worst UI I've ever seen was: "Cancel this action?" "Yes" "Cancel" Seriously?!
  - lucb1e 8y ago
    If you get lucky, it has a window close button on the right top as a safe way out. If you're unlucky... better have that power cable in reach.
    - 0xfeba 8y ago
      Reminds me of this gem from Microsoft: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/05/24/171215/windows-10-upgrade-activates-by-clicking-red-x-close-button-in-prompt-message https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/05/24/171215/windows-10-u... > In a move guaranteed to annoy many people, Microsoft has "jumped the shark" on encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft has faced criticism for changing the pop-up box encouraging Windows users to upgrade to Windows 10. Clicking the red cross on the right hand corner of the pop-up box now activates the upgrade instead of closing the box.
Someone 8y ago
In English, you can verb any noun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_(word_formation)#Verb_conversion_in_English https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_(word_formation)#Ve..., https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/01/25 https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/01/25)
- _emacsomancer_ 8y ago
  One can verb nouns in lots of languages, English just happens to have "0-derivation" verbing of nouns ("photoshopped the picture", "googled Dan"). As well as "0-derivation" nouning of verbs ('did the user submit an "ok" or a "cancel"?').
Terr_ 8y ago
> Ok can be a verb My gut feeling is that when written as a verb, it should always be the longer form, ex: "I will okay it, like I okayed the last one." I believe it's from the same writing-sense that intuits "I have three main points" as superior to "I have 3 main points."

klodolph 8y ago

Maybe you forgot to read the article? All of the (non-obsolete) screenshots of Factorio have verbs, except for "Back", which is pretty clear to me.

psychometry 8y ago
No, I read the article. That's how I was able to directly quote an example of a dialog where not all of the buttons are verbs.

jimmaswell 8y ago

>Button labels should be verbs. According to who? Why? I've never heard this before and it doesn't sound like a remotely necessary rule.

kchr 8y ago
Because verbs are actionable.

janci 8y ago

As andoid camera delete confirm does: [Cancel][Delete] Translated to my locale: [Zrušiť][Zrušiť] Verbs can be wery (un)helpful.

udkyo 8y ago

It's awkward sometimes. AWX: "Are you sure you want to cancel? Cancel/Proceed" e.g. Cancel cancelling / proceed to cancel. To me, that always seemed like a place where a simple "Yes/No" would be more appropriate.

johnp_ 8y ago
Proceed seems to be the wrong verb here, as that dialog looks like it appeared after clicking a cancel button, and if I don't want to cancel I "return" to the previous screen where my data still is and don't "proceed" to somewhere.
- udkyo 8y ago
  That's what cancel does - you click proceed when you want to cancel. If cancelling isn't what you want, you simply click the button labelled "Cancel" Clear as mud, right?
  - tallship 8y ago
    Well years ago at a convention I came across a little company that made Key caps out of Tempe, Arizona. I bought a couple of bags of just two keys. Red panic buttons "Panic", and, "Any" keys. We replaced the escape key cap with those when we sold new systems. The "Any" key was a big hit and quite popular with the n00bs back in those AT (286) days. I think I may still have a few of those around lolz.
oneeyedpigeon 8y ago
I agree, but what's the use-case for such a dialog in the first place?
- cm2187 8y ago
  If there is a cancel button for a long running expensive operation it sounds like a good idea to confirm the cancellation. Or if you are half way through paying for your cart, the merchant should check you really meant to press cancel.