Post #645146

2026-03-11 03:59 UTC

English speakers of the fedi. In a software with the interface in English, Reading a menu with verbs such as Save, Open, Close, Edit, Format etc., do you read them as imperative (an order: &quot;do this&quot;) or as an infinitive (the &quot;base form&quot; of the verb, like &quot;to do this&quot;)? Are you a native speaker or have English as a second language? #Dev #ux #ui #software #interface #translation #uiux #uxui #gui

Replies (5)

@diegovsky@bolha.us 2026-03-18 11:05

@eltonfc@bertha.social didn't get the chance to answer the poll, but since you're also a speaker of Portuguese, I read English often as imperative because it works in that language. In Portuguese it's already pretty rude to use imperative (that's what I feel), and I think it works really well to use the infinitive in PT because it's not two words while also seeming like a menu of possible actions, not orders. Some have compared to Todo lists, and the analogy here is the same. I have never seen anyone write Todo lists in imperative, always in the infinitive "lavar louça" ((to) clean the dishes)

Open ##696288
@eltonfc@bertha.social 2026-03-11 04:08

Iff English is your second language, how are these verbs tusually translated to *your* language in software interfaces?

Open ##1621333
@eltonfc@bertha.social 2026-03-11 04:09

Please boost for reach etc etc Thanks!

Open ##1621334
@aarbrk@mstdn.mx 2026-03-11 04:09

@eltonfc I'm having trouble answering this question. I think my interpretation is more like a statement of intention (I seek to X).

Open ##1621396
@Ylyej@mastodon.bahia.no 2026-03-11 04:29

@hobbs ajuda aqui :frogBlushed:

Open ##1621401