Terminology Management, Done Properly
Maintaining an approved list of product names, technical terms and preferred wording, with translations, so content stays consistent.
Dana Whitfield
The key figures
- Termbase
- a structured list of terms with definitions and translations
- Forbidden terms
- outdated or incorrect words to avoid
- Translation tools
- can enforce terminology automatically
- Ownership
- someone must approve new terms
Why this is worth getting right
Inconsistent terms confuse readers and translators, and terminology problems multiply across languages and channels.
Do this, not that
Do
- Create an approved term list
- Include definitions and usage notes
- Share terms with writers and translators
- Update terms when products change
- Check content for forbidden terms
Don’t
- Several names for one feature
- Terminology decided by each writer
- Translations that vary between documents
- Outdated product names in live content
When to bring in help
Our advice Bring in help when products have inconsistent names across content or languages.
Where this comes from
- ISO — ISO 704 Terminology work: Principles and methods
- Microsoft Learn — Microsoft terminology collection
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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Where to go next
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