In my daily work I come across more than my fair share of interfaces. These are internal tools, off the shelf, and external web sites. Today, I came across an external web site that inspired me to post a blog entry.

It must be an epic event!

No, it was the use of three different verbs to describe the same action in the help text.

In an employee survey, names withheld to protect the innocent, I was taking they have three verbs to describe the "click the next button" action.
First, there was the always confusing, to me "select".

Secondly, there was the slightly more correct but confusing in that it's an indirect action "push".

Finally, they said "press", again an indirect action.

I may disagree with the verbs used in the help text but the greater message here is that interfaces are about consistency, especially help text. If you don't make me think, or distract me from my goal - getting to the next page, you have succeeded.

The next time you are using an web form try to keep track of the different verbs used to help you - you might find they are doing the opposite.