IBM Style Guide: Technical Elements review skill

Review documentation for technical element issues: code examples, command line, command syntax, files, keyboard keys, menus, UI elements, and web addresses.

Precedence: For Red Hat documentation, the Red Hat Supplementary Style Guide (SSG) takes precedence over IBM Style Guide rules. Where guidance conflicts, follow the RH SSG skill for that topic (e.g., rh-ssg-technical-examples for code blocks and IP addresses, rh-ssg-gui-and-links for UI elements).

Checklist

Code examples

• Code blocks use monospace formatting, not plain text or screenshots
• Examples are complete and runnable when possible
• Fenced code blocks specify the language: python, yaml, ```json
• Realistic variable names and values are used, not "foo," "bar," "baz"
• Example domains use RFC 2606: example.com
• Example IPs use RFC 5737: 192.0.2.x, 198.51.100.x, 203.0.113.x
• Placeholder values cannot be mistaken for real values

Command line

• All commands are in monospace: kubectl get pods
• Command prompts indicate user type where relevant: $ (user), # (root)
• Prompt characters are not included in copyable command blocks
• One command per line
• Long commands use backslash () for line continuation
• Command output is shown separately from the command

Command syntax

• Syntax conventions are consistent:
  • command — literal text (monospace)
  • <variable> — required user-supplied values
  • [optional] — optional parameters
  • {choice1 | choice2} — mutually exclusive required choices
  • ... — repeatable elements
• Every parameter is explained in a table or description list
• Syntax notation is not mixed within a document

Commands

• Command names are in monospace: grep, kubectl, docker
• Lowercase command names are not capitalized
• Imperative mood is used: "Run the deploy command" not "The deploy command should be run"

Files and directories

• File names and paths are in monospace: config.yaml, /etc/hosts
• Forward slashes (/) are used for paths in cross-platform docs
• "File name" is two words (not "filename")
• "Directory" or "folder" is used consistently (prefer "directory" in CLI contexts)
• File extensions are included: README.md not README

Keyboard keys

• Key names are in bold: Enter, Tab, Ctrl
• Key combinations use plus with no spaces: Ctrl+C, Cmd+Shift+P
• Platform-appropriate modifier keys are specified: Ctrl+S (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+S (macOS)
• "Press" is used, not "hit" or "strike"
• Key names are capitalized: Enter, Backspace, Escape

Menus and navigation

• Menu names and items are in bold: File > Save As
• ">" separates menu levels with spaces: Edit > Preferences > General
• "Click" is used for mouse actions; "select" or "choose" for menu items
• "Go to" is not used for menu navigation; "click" or "select" is used

Mouse actions

• "Click" is used, not "click on," "single-click," or "left-click"
• "Right-click" is used only when the context menu is needed
• "Point to" or "rest the pointer on" is used, not "hover over"

UI elements

• UI element names are in bold, matching exact on-screen text: Submit, Cancel
• UI capitalization matches the product exactly
• Element type is named when not obvious: "the Name field," "the Advanced tab"
• Quotation marks are not used around UI elements (bold is used)
• Correct interaction verbs are used:
  • click — buttons, links, checkboxes
  • select — menu items, dropdown options
  • enter or type — text fields
  • clear — checkboxes (to deselect)
  • turn on/turn off — toggles (not "enable/disable")

Web, IP, and email addresses

• URLs and email addresses are in monospace: https://example.com
• HTTPS is used by default
• Example domains use RFC 2606; example IPs use RFC 5737; example IPv6 uses RFC 3849
• Real email addresses are not used in examples; user@example.com is used
• URLs include the protocol: https://example.com not example.com

How to use

1. Review only changed content and necessary context
2. For each issue found, cite the relevant IBM Style Guide section
3. Mark issues as required (incorrect formatting, wrong syntax conventions) or [SUGGESTION] (preferences)

Example invocations

• "Review this file for technical element formatting"
• "Check code examples and command syntax in this procedure"
• "Do an IBM technical elements review on modules/cli-reference.adoc"

References

For detailed guidance, consult:

• IBM Style Guide: Technical elements sections