A-E: Glossary of Terms and Recommended Usage

10 GB one space between number and abbreviation

10-GB hard disk hyphenate when used as an adjective

24/7 twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Use only when context is clear.

3Com/US Robotics Cornell's recommended modem manufacturer

1024 x 768 pixels example of monitor resolution

style for phone numbers

style for time of day

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Academic Technology Center (ATC) resource center for faculty and teaching assistants

Academic Technology Services (ATS) OUTDATED. (One of three former divisions of CIT; primarily located in the Computing & Communications Center.)

Active Directory

Actuate reporting system used for complex business reports, such as phone bills and Payroll reports

ADSM mostly OUTDATED -- the server software for EZ-Backup is Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) as of Feb 2001; a few platforms still use ADSM

ATS Computer Labs OUTDATED -- use "CIT Computer Labs" instead.

ATS HelpDesk OUTDATED -- use "CIT HelpDesk" instead.

Administrative Systems and Distributed Technologies (ASDT) OUTDATED. (One of three former divisions of CIT; primarily located at Maple Ave.)

alias OR shortcut
-- "shortcut" is for Windows
-- "alias" is for Macintosh

AppleShare

AppleTalk

application OR program "application" is preferred

ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Pronounced "az-key." Don't spell out.

AUDIX Pronounced "awe-dix." Cornell's voice mail system.

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backbone, backbone network central data network that connects the networks within buildings. May require a definition, depending on the audience.

backup (n., adj.), back up (v.)

BCC, BCC'd, BCCing blind carbon copy

Bear Access Avoid using an apostrophe to make Bear Access possessive (rewrite instead).

bps bits per second
-- measure of data transfer speed (context is usually modems and networks)
-- one space between number and abbreviation (9600 bps)
-- hyphenate when used as an adjective (9600-bps dialup service)
-- Mbps = megabits per second

Brio ad hoc querying tool used with central administrative and local databases

browser generic term for any application used to view web pages

bursar bill issued by the Office of the Bursar

Business Administration Center (BAC) division of CIT that manages CIT's central adminstrative activities

Business Information Systems (BIS) division of CIT that supports the university's business offices in their use of information technology

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cable modem

Call Forwarding, Call Waiting

CallerID

campus hosts CornellC, INSTRUCT, Gaea. Capitalize only when referring to the folder in Bear Access.

campus network "Cornell campus network" also acceptable. May need to use "backbone" or "backbone network" instead, depending on the audience.

Campus Store OUTDATED -- use "Cornell Store" instead.

canceled, canceling No double "L."

CBS Computer Repair CBS is Cornell Business Services

CBT OUTDATED -- use "SmartForce" instead.

CBTWeb OUTDATED.

CC, CC'd, CCing carbon copy

CCC Computing and Communications Center. Abbreviation is not well known outside CIT; spell out at least once.

CD, CDs compact disc, usually audio. If context is clear, can also refer to computer CDs.

CD-R
compact disc-recordable

CD-RW
compact disc-rewritable

CD-ROM, CD-ROMs
compact disc-read-only memory

cell phone

central mail servers servers that store and route "@cornell.edu" e-mail
-- also known as the postoffices

CER Central Employee Registration. Used by Human Resources to manage employee information

CGI common gateway interface. Used for web forms and scripts

check box Use "check" and "uncheck" to describe what to do.

CISER Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research. Pronounced "size-er."

CIT Cornell Information Technologies

CIT Computer Labs

CIT Contact Center (HelpDesk) We're transitioning away from "HelpDesk."

CIT News

CIT Public AppleShare Server

CIT Public NT Server

CIT-TV internal project to test videostreaming via broadcasting CIT meetings and updates. Note that the logo is styled citTV.

Classroom Technologies

click (v.) Not "click on."

client/server

close OR quit OR exit
-- "close" for windows and boxes
-- "quit" for Macintosh applications and as a general term
-- "exit" for Windows applications

COLTS II Cornell Online Time System
-- used by hourly employees to record hours worked

Communications Products (CP) division of CIT that supports the electronic communication infrastructure

computer OR machine OR workstation
-- "computer" for desktops and laptops
-- "workstation" or "machine" for high-end systems

computer labs generic term to refer to any computer lab at Cornell
Use as secondary reference for "CIT Computer Labs" only if context is clear.

CornellC part of the mainframe
-- hosts library services, Just the Facts, CoursEnroll

Cornell campus network "campus network" also acceptable. May need to use "backbone" or "backbone network" instead, depending on the audience.

Cornell Electronic Directory

Cornell Information Technologies (CIT)

Cornell University Library (CUL) refers to the collective of 19 libraries, including Geneva and Medical (Olin/Kroch/Uris count as one). No "the."

CorporateSync tool for synchronizing a handheld computer to a CorporateTime calendar

CorporateTime university-wide calendaring software; produced by Oracle (formerly produced by Steltor)

CoursEnroll course enrollment system for students

CourseInfo forms-based service for putting courses on the web
-- operated by the ATC

CourseWeb course materials web site operated by the Campus Store

CPU central processing unit
-- also known as "processor"

CSS Cascading Style Sheets
-- method for formatting text on the web

CS&T OUTDATED -- use "Steltor" instead

CUFF Cornell University Financial Forum

CUinfo

CULinux

CU On the Net e-mail forwarding service for Cornell graduates
-- managed by the Office of Alumni Affairs
-- formerly called CU-Connect

CU People personal web pages of faculty, staff, and students

CUPID high-end printing initiative run by Rich Marisa

Customer Services and Marketing (CS&M) division of CIT that acts as the "front door" for CIT

CUWebLogin web-based method for Kerberos authentication (uses SSL encryption)

CyberTower distributed-learning project run by Continuing Education; supported by ATC

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data Think of it as a collective noun and use a singular verb ("data is" ).

dataComet Macintosh telnet application

data mart

DDDH deans, directors, department heads (context is usually memos)

disc OR disk
-- "disc" refers to CDs (compact discs) and DVDs
-- "disk" refers to floppy, Zip, and hard disks

DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Enables individual computers on a network to connect to a DHCP server and be assigned an IP address. Used in ResNet.

DHTML Dynamic HTML

dial tone

dial-up (adj.), dial up (v.) Note that the adjective is now hyphenated, in keeping with Microsoft standards.

distance learning

Distributed Learning Services (DLS) division of CIT that helps integrate information technology and instruction

DNS domain name system

document OR file "file" is preferred

DOS disk operating system. Pronounced "doss." Don't spell out.

double-click

dpi dots per inch (in printing)

Dreamweaver web editor and site management application; produced by Macromedia

drop-down (adj.) preferred over pop-up or pulldown

DVD digital versatile disc

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EBG Executive Budget Group

electronic directory refers to Cornell Electronic Directory.
Use "electronic directory" only on secondary references.

e-list Short form of "electronic mailing list." (Not e-List, elist, eList, or E-List.) Can be "E-list" when used as the first word of a sentence or in Title Case.

e-mail Not email, E-mail, or Email. Can be "E-mail" when used as the first word of a sentence or in Title Case.

e-mail address In print, use italics (Cornell Chronicle uses angle brackets instead).

Employee Essentials service that enables employees to update addresses and benefits information -- available through Bear Access and the Office of Human Resources web site

ensure OR insure
-- "ensure" means "to make certain"
-- "insure" means "to provide insurance for"

enter OR type "type" is preferred

Enterasys manufacturer of the RoamAbout card recommended for RedRover

EOG OUTDATED -- Executive Oversight Group; reviews proposals for data marts and other CIT services

Ethernet Capitalized because it is a trademarked product.

ewe2 fake NetID used in documentation; corresponding name is "Eugene W. Erwin" or "Ethel W. Erwin"

Eudora

exit OR quit OR close
-- "close" for windows and boxes
-- "quit" for Macintosh applications and as a general term
-- "exit" for Windows applications

Express Lane free dial-up service that provides four 15-minute connections per day

EZ-Backup

EZ-Print Not EZ-Print/Local.

EZ-Remote Don't differentiate between high-speed and low-speed.

EzraNet intiative to rewire many campus buildings over several years

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