2.1-3 Consistent Wording of Commands

All terms employed in the user-system interface, and their abbreviations, should be consistent in meaning from one transaction to another, and from one task to another.

Additional Information:
The same kind of action should be referred to by the same word in any context. For example, EDIT should not be used in one place, MODIFY in another, UPDATE in a third, all referring to the same kind of action. Commands should be congruent with one another, following natural language patterns; if one command is UP, its complement should be DOWN. Other natural complements include OPEN-CLOSE, RUN-STOP, ON-OFF, IN-OUT, and RAISE-LOWER. For instructional material, such as display labeling, on-line guidance, and other messages to users, consistent terminology should be used to refer to entry of commands or information.