Use these guidelines to describe users' interactions with their keyboard keys.
Verbs
| Use | For |
|---|---|
| type, enter | keys that are printed with letters, words, numbers, and symbols and result in output on a screen |
| press | keys that perform functions other than producing output on a screen, such as Enter, Esc, Shift, and Tab |
Do not use:
- depress
- hit
- punch
- strike
Key names
The names of keys should be displayed in initial caps.
Use the plus sign to indicate key combinations, for example, Shift+Enter.
For keys specific to a platform, use the conventions of the platform, for example, ⌘+A.
| Key Name and Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|
| Alt | Windows only. |
| Command (⌘) | MacOS only. XML/HTML: ऎ |
| Control | MacOS only. Do not use ^ symbol. |
| Ctrl | Windows only. Spell as indicated. Do not use ^ symbol. |
| Enter | Do not use alternative names like Return. |
| Esc | Spell as indicated. |
| Hyphen | Spell as indicated; showing the symbol might be confusing when indicating a key name or as part of a key combination. |
| Minus sign | Spell as indicated; showing the symbol might be confusing when indicating a key name or as part of a key combination. |
| Option (⌥) | MacOS only. XML/HTML: क |
| Period (.) | |
| Plus sign | Spell as indicated; showing the symbol might be confusing when indicating a key name or as part of a key combination. |
| Shift | |
| Tab | |
| Windows logo key | Windows only. Spell as indicated. Do not use a symbol or image. |
To type key symbols that do not have indicated shortcuts:
- Windows: Open the Character Map and search for the symbol.
- MacOS: Open the Emoji and Symbols panel and search for the symbol.