M Edit

machine machine

Don’t use as a synonym for computer.

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macOS macOS

Operating system used on Apple Macintosh computers. Use lowercase for mac and uppercase for OS.

See also OS, operating system.

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manipulate manipulate

Don’t use. Instead, use work with, handle, or use.

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MariaDB MariaDB

Capitalize M and use uppercase for DB.

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Markdown Markdown

Capitalize.

Don’t use a filename extension to refer to a type of file. For example, use Markdown file rather than .md file.

For more information, see Referring to file types.

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marquee marquee

OK to use when referring to the scrolling text feature or tag.

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markup, mark up markup, mark up

One word as a noun. As a verb, use two words as in mark up. Don’t hyphenate in any form.

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master, master/slave master, master/slave

Avoid using whenever possible. Instead, replace master with a contextually relevant term such as primary, main, original, parent, initiator, driver, controller, manager, mixer, aggregator, publisher, leader, or active. Use primary/secondary, primary/subordinate, principal/agent or other relevant terms instead of master/slave.

For more information, see Replacing established terms.

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mathematical mathematical

Use instead of mathematic.

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matrix, matrices matrix, matrices

Use the plural matrixes unless there is a domain-specific reason (for example, a mathematical context) to use matrices.

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may may

Avoid using in standard documentation; reserve may for official policy or legal considerations. To convey possibility, use might instead. To convey permission, use can instead.

See also can

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maximize maximize

Use to refer to making a window as big as possible without going full screen.

See also minimize.

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MB, megabyte MB, megabyte

Initialism for megabyte. Use uppercase.

One MB equals 10002 bytes in the context of file size or storage capacity, and 10242 bytes in the context of computer memory.

In the noun form, insert a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. Use the preposition of before the unit.

Example

Tip: Recommended: 128 MB of storage

Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.

Example

Tip: Recommended: a 16 MB storage drive

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

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Mbit, megabit Mbit, megabit

Initialism for megabit.

One Mbit equals 10002 bits in the context of file size or storage capacity, and 10242 bits in the context of computer memory.

In the noun form, insert a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. Use the preposition of before the unit.

Example

Tip: Recommended: 10 MBit of memory

Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.

Example

Tip: Recommended: 10 MBit memory

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

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Mbps (Mbit/s), megabits per second Mbps (Mbit/s), megabits per second

Initialism for megabits per second.

For more information, see Units of measurement.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

See also Mbit, megabit.

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MBps (MB/s), megabytes per second MBps (MB/s), megabytes per second

Initialism for megabytes per second.

For more information, see Units of measurement.
For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

See also MB, megabyte.

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media, medium media, medium

Use medium as a singular subject and media as a plural subject. Accordingly, use the correct verb form; the medium is and the media are.

However, when discussing audio, video, and images, you can use media as a singular subject to describe a collection of content such as a set of images.

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mega- mega-

In general, don’t hyphenate words beginning with mega- such as megabit, megabyte, megahertz, and megapixel, unless mega- is followed by a proper noun or it is absolutely necessary to avoid confusion.

For more information, see Hyphens.

For word usage of specific terms, see The American Heritage Dictionary.

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memory memory

In most cases, refer to a specific kind of memory, such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), virtual memory, or portable storage devices.

In the noun forms that refer to memory measurements, use of in a prepositional phrase before the unit, such as 512 MB of RAM.

Don’t use memory to refer to storage capacity; instead, use a term such as storage space.

See also storage.

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In general, emphasize on the task to be accomplished, rather than how the user should interact with the UI element.

For more information, see Menu bar.

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In general, emphasize on the task to be accomplished, rather than how the user should interact with the UI element.

OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.

For more information, see UI elements.

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message message

Don’t use as a verb. Instead, use send, receive, or a contextually relevant term.

OK to use as a noun. If required, you can also provide adjective to present further context, such as text message, email message, audio message or video message.

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meta meta

For the Make WordPress Meta Team, capitalize Meta.

In general, don’t hyphenate words beginning with meta- such as metadata, and metafeed, unless meta- is followed by a proper noun or it is absolutely necessary to avoid confusion.

For more information, see Hyphens.

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metadata metadata

One word. Not meta data or meta-data.

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method method

In the context developer documentation or for a technical audience, where method refers to a member of a class, avoid also using method as a synonym for manner or approach.

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MHz, megahertz MHz, megahertz

Initialism for megahertz.

In the noun form, insert a space between the numeral and the abbreviation. Use the preposition of before the unit.

Example

Tip: Recommended: a rate of 5.0 MHz

Don’t hyphenate the adjective form.

Example

Tip: Recommended: a 5.0 MHz rate

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

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micro- micro-

In general, don’t hyphenate words beginning with micro- such as microprocessor, microservices, and microcomputer unless micro- is followed by a proper noun or it is absolutely necessary to avoid confusion.

For more information, see Hyphens.

For word usage of specific terms, see The American Heritage Dictionary.

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Microsoft Microsoft

OK to use. Capitalize.

See also Windows.

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midnight midnight

OK to use, but not when paired with time in the numeral format.

Example

Warning: Not recommended: 12:00 midnight

For more information, see Dates and times.

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migrate migrate

Use to move databases, media, users, applications or code, from one server, environment or platform to another. Don’t use as a synonym for upgrade or port.

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million, M million, M

Don’t abbreviate million as M, m, or mn. Spell out the word or denote the entire number.

For more information, see Abbreviations in numbers.

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MIME MIME

Abbreviation for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension. Use uppercase.

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

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minimize minimize

Use to refer to placing the window in the taskbar or dock.

See also maximize.

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ML ML

Abbreviation for machine learning. Use uppercase.

For more information about spelling out abbreviations, see Abbreviations.

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mobile, mobile device, mobile phone mobile, mobile device, mobile phone

Use instead of cell phone.

See also phone.

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mobile data mobile data

Use instead of cellular data.

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mobile network mobile network

Use instead of cellular network.

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monospace monospace

One word. Not mono space or mono-space.

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more than more than

Use to describe items or elements that are quantifiable such as amounts or figures.

Don’t use over.

See also later, over.

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mount mount

Use as a verb to describe the action of making a disk or disk image available.

OK to use in developer documentation and for a technical audience. Avoid using in user documentation and for a general audience.

See also unmount.

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mouse mouse

Avoid referring to the mouse whenever possible. Instead, emphasize on the task to be accomplished, and the interaction verb with the mouse such as select, click, or press.

For more information, see Interaction verbs.

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mouse over mouse over

Don’t use as a synonym for move the mouse pointer to.

For more information, see Interaction verbs.

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movable movable

Not moveable.

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move move

Use as a verb to describe transferring files, folders, or UI elements from one location to another.

For more information, see Interaction verbs.

See also drag, copy.

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MP3 MP3

Initialism for MPEG Audio Layer 3. Use uppercase.

Don’t use a filename extension to refer to a type of file. For example, use MP3 file rather than .mp3 file.

For more information, see Referring to file types.

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MP4 MP4

Initialism for MPEG-4. Use uppercase.

Don’t use a filename extension to refer to a type of file. For example, use MP4 file rather than .mp4 file.

For more information, see Referring to file types.

See also MPEG.

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MPEG MPEG

Acronym for Moving Picture Experts Group. Use uppercase.

Don’t use a filename extension to refer to a type of file. For example, use MPEG file rather than .mpg file.

For more information, see Referring to file types.

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multi- multi-

In general, don’t hyphenate words beginning with multi- such as multimedia, multilevel, multisite, and multiuser, unless multi- is followed by a proper noun or it is absolutely necessary to avoid confusion.

For more information, see Hyphens.

For word usage of specific terms, see The American Heritage Dictionary.

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multisite multisite

One word. Not multi site or multi-site.

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multitask, multitasking multitask, multitasking

Don’t use multitask as a verb. OK to use multitasking as a noun or an adjective.

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must must

Use to refer to a task that a user is required to do. Don’t use must to indicate suggestions or a condescending tone.

For example, You should set a strong password is a suggestion, whereas You must set a strong password is a requirement.

For more information, see Style, voice, and tone.

See also should.

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MySQL MySQL

Capitalize M and use uppercase for SQL.

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