Norwegian Nynorsk Style Guide

Contents
What's New? .................................................................................................................................... 4
New Topics ................................................................................................................................... 4
Updated Topics ............................................................................................................................ 4
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5
About This Style Guide ................................................................................................................ 5
Scope of This Document .............................................................................................................. 5
Style Guide Conventions .............................................................................................................. 5
Sample Text ................................................................................................................................. 6
Recommended Reference Material ............................................................................................. 7
Normative References .............................................................................................................. 7
Informative References ............................................................................................................. 7
Language Specific Conventions ...................................................................................................... 8
Country/Region Standards ........................................................................................................... 8
Characters ................................................................................................................................ 8
Date .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Time ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Numbers ................................................................................................................................. 11
Sorting ..................................................................................................................................... 15
Geopolitical Concerns ................................................................................................................ 17
Grammar, Syntax & Orthographic Conventions ......................................................................... 18
Adjectives and Participles ....................................................................................................... 18
Articles .................................................................................................................................... 19
Capitalization .......................................................................................................................... 20
Compounds............................................................................................................................. 20
Gender .................................................................................................................................... 21
Genitive ................................................................................................................................... 21
Modifiers ................................................................................................................................. 22
Nouns ...................................................................................................................................... 22
Prepositions ............................................................................................................................ 23
Pronouns ................................................................................................................................. 24
Punctuation ............................................................................................................................. 24
Singular & Plural ..................................................................................................................... 27
Split Infinitive ........................................................................................................................... 27
Subjunctive ............................................................................................................................. 27
Non-Breaking Spaces ............................................................................................................. 27
Syntax ..................................................................................................................................... 27
Verbs ....................................................................................................................................... 28
Word Order ............................................................................................................................. 28
Style and Tone Considerations .................................................................................................. 28

Audience ................................................................................................................................. 29
Style - Consistency and Idiomaticity ....................................................................................... 29
Tone ........................................................................................................................................ 29
Localization Guidelines .................................................................................................................. 30
General Considerations ............................................................................................................. 30
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... 30
Accessibility ............................................................................................................................ 30
Acronyms ................................................................................................................................ 30
Applications, Products, and Features ..................................................................................... 31
Frequent Errors ....................................................................................................................... 31
Glossaries ............................................................................................................................... 32
Fictitious Information ............................................................................................................... 32
Recurring Patterns .................................................................................................................. 32
Standardized Translations ...................................................................................................... 33
Unlocalized Items.................................................................................................................... 33
Using the Word Microsoft ....................................................................................................... 34
Software Considerations ............................................................................................................ 34
User Interface ......................................................................................................................... 34
Messages ................................................................................................................................ 35
Keys ........................................................................................................................................ 39
Document Translation Considerations ....................................................................................... 43
Titles ....................................................................................................................................... 43
Copyright ................................................................................................................................. 43

What's New?
Last Updated: May 2011

New Topics
No topic added.

Updated Topics
The style guide was fully updated in May 2011.

Introduction
This Style Guide went through major revision in May 2011 in order to remove outdated and unnecessary content.

About This Style Guide

The purpose of this Style Guide is to provide everybody involved in the localization of Norwegian Nynorsk
Microsoft products with Microsoft-specific linguistic guidelines and standard conventions that differ from or are
more prescriptive than those found in language reference materials. These conventions have been adopted after
considering context based on various needs, but above all, they are easy to follow and applicable for all types of
software to be localized.
The Style Guide covers the areas of formatting and grammatical conventions. It also presents the reader with a
general idea of the reasoning behind the conventions. The present Style Guide is a revision of our previous Style
Guide version with the intention of making it more standardized, more structured, and easier to use as a
reference.
The guidelines and conventions presented in this Style Guide are intended to help you localize Microsoft products
and materials. We welcome your feedback, questions and concerns regarding the Style Guide. You can send us
your feedback via the Microsoft Language Portal feedback page.

Scope of This Document

This Style Guide is intended for the localization professional working on Microsoft products. It is not intended to
be a comprehensive coverage of all localization practices, but to highlight areas where Microsoft has preference
or deviates from standard practices for Norwegian Nynorsk localization.

Style Guide Conventions

In this document, a plus sign (+) before a translation example means that this is the recommended correct
translation. A minus sign (-) is used for incorrect translation examples.
In Microsoft localization context, the word term is used in a slightly untraditional sense, meaning the same as e.g.
a segment in Trados. The distinguishing feature of a term here is that it is translated as one unit; it may be a
traditional term (as used in terminology), a phrase, a sentence, or a paragraph.
References to interface elements really only refer to translatable texts associated with those interface elements.
Example translations in this document are only intended to illustrate the point in question. They are not a source
of approved terminology. Always check for approved translation in the Microsoft terminology database.

Sample Text
Mellomnorsk (ca. 1350ca.1525)
Vi reknar med at den gammalnorske perioden varte til siste halvdelen av 1300-talet. Da fr Sverige og sidan
Danmark ei meir dominerande stilling i Norden, og svensk og dansk sprk vinn ogs terreng i Noreg. Norsk blir
skriven i meir oppblanda form enn fr, og det grammatiske systemet blir enklare; dette kallar vi gjerne
mellomnorsk. Dette stadiet varte til litt etter 1500. I 1536 vart unionen med Danmark knytt heilt fast ved at den
katolske kyrkja vart erstatta med ei luthersk statskyrkje. Dansk hadde da lenge dominert som skriftsprk, men no
vart det heilt einerdande.
I talemlet skjer det ei parallell utvikling i dansk, svensk og norsk, i retning av ei sterk forenkling av grammatikken
og ei endring av ordforrdet, som no tok opp mange tyske lnord. Islandsk og delvis frysk heldt seg p eit meir
konservativt stadium, og fr 1500 m dei reknast som heilt ulike sprk som ikkje lenger vart skjna i Skandinavia.
Dansk einaste skriftsprk i Noreg (ca. 1500ca. 1850)
Fr ca. 1500 og til ca. 1850 var dansk einaste skriftsprk i Noreg. Dette sprket var i starten inkonsekvent og
varierande, men fekk etter kvart ei stadig fastare form. Bibelen kom p dansk i 1550, og det var gjennom det
religise sprket at nordmennene etter kvart lrte lese. Eit danskbasert overklassetaleml utvikla seg p 1600og 1700-talet, rett nok med ein norsk uttale som skifta med landsdelane i munnen p norskfdde embetsmenn
m.m.
Ca. 1800 snakka kanskje eit par prosent av folket dette sprket, mest embetsmenn, dels g kjpmenn og
godseigarar, som ofte var av innvandrarslekter (fr srleg Danmark og Tyskland). Resten snakka dialektar, som
p den tida hadde utvikla dei grunntrekka dei har hatt i moderne tid, sjlv om ordtilfanget og delvis grammatikken
var meir alderdommeleg enn i dag.
I 1814 vart Noreg skilt fr Danmark og i staden bunden i ein lausare union med Sverige. Dansk heldt fram med
vere skriftsprket, og styrkte stillinga si fordi lese- og skriveopplringa vart betre. Det var sleis sjlvsagt at
Grunnlova var p dansk. Men fr 1830-talet av vart det ein diskusjon om ikkje Noreg som ein eigen nasjon burde
ha eit eige sprk. Dei som meinte det, kom til dele seg i to retningar.
Ivar Aasen og nynorsken
Den eine retninga gjekk inn for byggje opp eit heilt sjlvstendig norsk skriftsprk p grunnlag av dialektane.
Denne retninga vart grunnlagd av Ivar Aasen (18131896). Han var bygdegut og dialektbrukar fr Sunnmre, og
kom tidleg til at ei grundig undersking av dialektane i ulike landsdelar var ndvendig for skape grunnlag for eit
norsk skriftsprk. Med eit offentleg granskingsstipend reiste han rundt i landet i tida 184246, gjorde ei
jamfrande undersking av grammatikk og ordtilfang i dialektane, og laga ein samanliknande grammatikk over
dei i 1848 og ei ordbok i 1850. Han fekk stipend til granske vidare, og flgde opp med ei lita bok der han samla
tekster p ulike dialektar, og fydde til nokre tekster p ei foresltt fellesform for dialektane. Denne norma, som
han kalla landsml, bygde han ut i ra som flgde, bde ved gi ut ein strre grammatikk (1864) og ei
omfattande ordbok (1873), og ved skrive dikt og skodespel p det. Alt fr slutten av 1850-ra begynte andre
skrive p landsml, og ti r etterp vart det undervist i det p ein folkehgskole. Landsmlet vart offisielt jamstilt
med dansk i 1885, og vart godkjent som undervisningssprk i barneskolen i 1892 (etter lokal avgjerd). Fr 1890 til
1930 ekspanderte det som skolesprk og allment brukssprk i fleire landsdelar, men berre p landsbygda. I 1929
fekk sprket offisielt namnet nynorsk etter stortingsvedtak.
6

Kontaktinformasjon for Microsoft Norge

Postadresse
Microsoft Norge AS
Postboks 43, Lilleaker
0216 Oslo
NOREG
Besksadresse
Lilleakerveien 6, 0283 Oslo
Telefon: 22 02 25 00
Oppretta 26.04.2011 kl. 17.55
Source: Main sample text taken from www.sprakradet.no, home page of The Language Council of Norway.

Recommended Reference Material

Use the Norwegian Nynorsk language and terminology as described and used in the following publications.

Normative References
These normative sources must be adhered to. Any deviation from them automatically fails a string in most cases.
When more than one solution is allowed in these sources, look for the recommended one in other parts of the
Style Guide.
1. Nynorskordboka, Det norske samlaget, Oslo 2006 (click here for web version)
2. Finn-Erik Vinje: Skrivereglar, 7. utgve, nynorsk, Aschehoug, 2009

Informative References
These sources are meant to provide supplementary information, background, comparison, etc.
1. Nynorsk ordliste, Samlaget, 2005
2. Sprkrdet

Language Specific Conventions

This part of the style guide contains information about standards specific to Norwegian Nynorsk.

Country/Region Standards
Characters

Country/region
Lower-case characters
Upper-case characters
Characters in caseless
scripts
Extended Latin characters
Note on alphabetical order
Total number of characters

Unicode codes

Notes

Norway
a, , , b, c, d, e, , , , f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, , p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, ,
,
A, , , B, C, D, E, , , , F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X,
Y, Z, , ,
n/a
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Alphabetical order is not necessarily indicative of sorting order.
35
a (0097); A (0065); (00E0); (00C0); b (0098); B (0066); c (0099); C (0067); d
(0100); D (0068); e (0101); E (0069); (00E9); (00C9); (00E8); (00C8);
(00EA); (00CA); f (0102); F (0070); g (0103); G (0071); h (0104); H (0072); i
(0105); I (0073); j (0106); J (0074); k (0107); K (0075); l (0108); L (0076); m
(0109); M (0077); n (0110); N (0078); o (0111); O (0079); p (0112); P (0080); q
(0113); Q (0081); r (0114); R (0082); s (0115); S (0083); t (0116); T (0084); u
(0117); U (0085); v (0118); V (0086); w (0119); W (0087); x (0120); X (0088); y
(0121); Y (0089); z (0122); Z (0090); (0230); (0198); (0248); (0216);
(0229); (0197);
The Norwegian alphabet does not contain , , , , , , , , , , , but the
characters are used in the language. The Norwegian alphabet contains 29
letters.

Date
8

Country/region
Calendar/Era
First Day of the Week
First Week of the Year
Separator
Default Short Date Format
Example
Default Long Date Format
Example
Additional Short Date Format 1
Example
Additional Short Date Format 2
Example
Additional Long Date Format 1
Example
Additional Long Date Format 2
Example
Leading Zero in Day Field for Short Date Format
Leading Zero in Month Field for Short Date Format
No. of digits for year for Short Day Format
Leading Zero in Day Field for Long Date Format
Leading Zero in Month Field for Long Date Format
Number of digits for year for Long Day Format
Date Format for Correspondence
Example

Norway
Gregorian
Monday
The week that contains the first 4 days of the new year
. (period)
dd.mm.yyyy
17.03.2011
dd. MMM. yyyy
17. mar. 2011
dd.mm.yy
17.03.11
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
yes
yes
4
yes
n/a
4
dd.mm.yyyy
17.03.2011
9

Norway

Country/region
Notes

n/a
d is for day, number of d's indicates the format (d = digits
without leading zero, dd = digits with leading zero, ddd =
the abbreviated day name, dddd = full day name)
M is for month, number of M's gives number of digits. (M
= digits without leading zero, MM = digits with leading
zero, MMM = the abbreviated name, MMMM = full name)
y is for year, number of y's gives number of digits (yy =
two digits, yyyy = four digits)

Abbreviations in Format Codes

Time
Country/region
24 hour format
Standard time format
Standard time format example
Time separator
Time separator examples
Hours leading zero
Hours leading zero example
String for AM designator
String for PM designator
Notes

Norway
yes
HH:mm:ss
03:24:12
colon (:)
03:24:12
yes
03:24:12
n/a
n/a
The time separator for fractions of seconds is a comma (,)

Days
Country/region: Norway
Day

Normal Form

Abbreviation

Monday
Tuesday

mndag
tysdag

mn
tys
10

Day

Normal Form

Abbreviation

Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

onsdag
torsdag
fredag
laurdag
sndag

ons
tor
fre
lau
sn

First Day of Week: Mndag

Is first letter capitalized?: No
Notes: Two-letter abbreviations (not commonly used): m, ty, on, to, fr, la, s

Months
Country/region: Norway
Month

Full Form

Abbreviated Form

Long Date Form

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

januar
februar
mars
april
mai
juni
juli
august
september
oktober
november
desember

jan
feb
mar
apr
mai
jun
jul
aug
sep
okt
nov
des

Same as Full Form

Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form
Same as Full Form

Is first letter capitalized?: No

Notes: n/a

Numbers
Cardinal numbers should be expressed in digits when referring to titles, paragraphs, times and pages, and in
cases when figures are used on screen.
Examples
kapittel 9
avsnitt 3
kl. 14.30
11

side 152
kolonne 30
Measurements, percentages, currency amounts and street numbers should always be expressed in digits.
Examples
3,5 tommer
60 %
kr 6 000
Storgaten 8
Other rules:
Numbers between zero and twelve: letters
Whole tens and hundreds: letters
Numbers higher than twelve: digits
In combination with another part written in digits: digits
Examples
Dei fire dokumenta du arbeidde med sist, blir viste lengst nede p Fil-menyen.
Kurset har plass til seksti deltakarar.
Eit rekneark er eit rektangulrt rutenett som bestr av 256 kolonnar og 16 384 rader.
Talet p oppfringar kan variere mellom 2 og 99.

Phone Numbers
Country/
region
Norway
Country/
region
Norway

Internation
al Dialing
Code
47

Area
Codes
Used?
no

Number of
Digits Area
Codes
n/a

Separator

Number of
Digits
Local
8

Digit
Groupings
Local
## ## ## ##

Number of
Digits Mobile
8

space

Number of
Digits
Domestic
8

Digit
Groupings
Domestic
## ## ## ##

Digit
Groupings
Mobile
### ## ###

Number of
Digits
International
10

Digit
Groupings
International
+47 ## ## ## ##

Notes: n/a

Addresses
Country/region: Norway
Disclaimer: Please note that the information in this entry should under no circumstances be used in examples as
fictitious information.
Address Format: 1. [Title/Honorific] FirstName [MiddleName] LastName
2. [CompanyName]
12

3. Address1
4. [Address2]
5. [CountryCode-]PostalCode Town/City
6. [Country]
Example Address: Bente Blom
Engen Blomster
Heimvegen 26
6700 STORBY
Local Postal Code Format: ####
Notes:
Items in brackets are optional or seldom used.
Address is always left aligned (also excluding optional items).
Country code is attached to the postal code when sending mail from abroad (e.g. NO-6700 STORBY)
Capital letters for Town/City
First and second lines Title etc. line and CompanyName line can appear in reverse order too, i.e.
Company name on first line and Title etc. on second
State/province do not exists as such and are not used in addresses

Currency
Country/region
Currency Name
Currency Symbol
Currency Symbol Position
Positive Currency Format
Negative Sign Symbol
Negative Currency Format
Decimal Symbol
Number of Digits after Decimal
Digit Grouping Symbol
Number of Digits in Digit
Grouping

Norway
krone
kr
There is no specific currency symbol. Instead Norwegian Nynorsk uses
the letters kr (for kroner), followed by a space and the numeral.
kr 123,45
For negative values, the minus sign (which is an ordinary hyphen and
NOT the en dash ) is used. Note, there is a space between kr and the
hyphen.
kr -123,45
, (comma)
2
non-breaking space
3

13

Positive Currency Example

kr 123 456 789,00

Negative Currency Example

ISO Currency Code

kr -123 456 789,00

NOK

Currency Subunit Name

re

Currency Subunit Symbol

n/a

Currency Subunit Example

n/a

Digit Groups
Country/region: Norway
Decimal Separator: ,
Decimal Separator Description: comma
Decimal Separator Example: kr 123,45
Thousand Separator: space
Thousand Separator Description: non-breaking space
Thousand Separator Example: kr 12 000
Notes: A normal thousand separator is not used in numbers like postal codes, social security numbers, telephone
numbers etc.

Measurement Units
Metric System Commonly Used?: Yes
Temperature: Celsius
Category

English

Translation

Abbreviation

Linear Measure

Kilometer
Meter
Decimeter
Centimeter
Millimeter
Hectoliter
Liter
Deciliter
Centiliter
Milliliter
Ton
Kilogram

kilometer
meter
desimeter
centimeter
millimeter
hektoliter
Liter
desiliter
centiliter
milliliter
tonn
kilogram

km
m
dm
cm
mm
hl
l
dl
cl
ml
t
kg

Capacity

Mass

14

Category

English Units of
Measurement

English

Translation

Abbreviation

Pound
Gram
Decigram
Centigram
Milligram
Inch
Feet
Mile
Gallon

pund
gram
desigram
centigram
milligram
tomme
fot
engelsk mil
n/a

lb
g
dg
cg
mg
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Notes: If the unit of measurement is preceded by a number, there should be a (non-breaking) space between the
number and the unit of measurement.
Examples: 35 mm, 8 MB, 5 000 kB

Percentages
Norwegian Nynorsk uses a (non-breaking) space between a number and the percentage symbol.
Example: 35 %

Sorting

Sorting rules

Character
sorting order

1. Capital letters and lowercase letters are equal. No distinction is made between them.
2. The extended characters , , , , and are not the equivalents of a or o but treated as
separate letters of the alphabet. They are in fact the last three letters of the Norwegian
alphabet.
3. The Characters , , , and , (not used in Norwegian Nynorsk, but may come up in
German or Swedish examples or words imported from these languages) are sorted as variants
of , (, ), , (, ) and Y, y (, ).
4. Other accented characters are equal with non-accented characters; so and e are equal.
5. Non-alphabetical characters (i.e. symbols like @ ! #) sort before the letters of the alphabet.
6. Digits sort after the non-alphabetical characters and before the letters of the alphabet.
7. Double a (aa, Aa, AA, aA) sorts as (/).
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, , ,
a (97); A (65); (224); (192); b (98); B (66); c (99); C (67); d (100); D (68); e (101); E (69);
(233); (201); (232); (200); (234); (202); f (102); F (70); g (103); G (71); h (104); H
(72); i (105); I (73); j (106); J (74); k (107); K (75); l (108); L (76); m (109); M (77); n (110); N
(78); o (111); O (79); p (112); P (80); q (113); Q (81); r (114); R (82); s (115); S (83); t (116); T
(84); u (117); U (85); v (118); V (86); w (119); W (87); x (120); X (88); y (121); Y (89); z (122); Z
(90); (145); (146); (155); (157); (134); (143)
15

Examples of
sorted words

@
1
Aaron
aksje
la
alltid
andere
ndere
chemin
cot
cte
ct
ut
eller
hia
hver
irdisch
lama
lire
lug
lza
lukte
lut
lvi
Lwen
lu
Lbeck
lydig
lykke
lyve
mta
Mnner
mr
mchten
myndig
over
pint
pia
pylon
savoir
smtlich
So Paulo
service
16

Sietla
skjul
subtil
symbol
lub
ran
erbra
tre
tsjekkisk
vga
verkehrt
vaffel
vox
xylofon
yen
yuan
yucca
zoo
Zrich
Zviedrija
zysk
zzlj
zzlz
zznj
zznz
al
ena
enva
rend
rebro
vst
rleg
Aashild
tti

Geopolitical Concerns
Part of the cultural adaptation of the US-product to a specific market is the resolving of geopolitical issues. While
the US-product should have been designed and developed with neutrality and a global audience in mind, the
localized product should respond to the particular situation that applies within the target country/region.
Sensitive issues or issues that might potentially be offensive to the users in the target country/region may occur in
any of the following:
17

Maps
Flags
Country/region, city and language names
Art and graphics
Cultural content, such as encyclopedia content and other text where historical or political references may
occur
Some of these issues are relatively easy to verify and resolve: the objective should be for the localizer to always
have the most current information available. Maps and other graphic representations of countries/regions and
regions should be checked for accuracy and existing political restrictions. Country/region, city and language
names change on a regular basis and need to be checked, even if previously approved.
A thorough understanding of the culture of the target market is required for checking the appropriateness of
cultural content, clip art and other visual representations of religious symbols, body and hand gestures.
Guideline
As country/region and city names can change, please use the most up-to-date Norwegian Nynorsk list for every
release of your product.

Grammar, Syntax & Orthographic Conventions

This section includes information on how to apply the general rules of the Norwegian Nynorsk language to
Microsoft products and documentation.

Adjectives and Participles

Participles are the adjectival forms of the verb. The present participle (gjerande) is rarely used in Norwegian
Nynorsk. The following rules apply to the past participle (gjort), frequently used as a noun-modifier.
Adjectives and participles are inflected in number and gender:
Indefinite
Definite
ein open bil
ei open dr
eit ope hus

den opne bilen

den opne dra
det opne huset

Also in predicative position:

Examples
Romanen er skriven
Boka er skriven
Brevet er skrive
Notata er skrivne

18

Adjectives are also inflected for number in regular prepositional phrases:

Examples
Dei var glade i ...
A sentence is often more fluent in Norwegian Nynorsk if you use a relative clause rather than a preceding
participle:
English
Translation
Do not use
Attach certificates with newly
added signatures.

(+) Legg ved sertifikat med

signaturar som nylig er lagde til.

(-) Legg ved sertifikat med nyleg

tillagde signaturar.

Possessive adjectives
The frequent use of possessives (eigedomspronomen) is a feature of English language. This is not as common in
Norwegian Nynorsk. "Din", "di", "ditt", "dine" should be omitted from Microsoft products unless needed for
clarification. If included, the possessive is placed after the word it modifies to avoid a formal style unappropriate in
IT language.
English
Translation
Do not use
Comment
Open your document from
your personal folder
Contact your system
administrator
your favorite tools

(+) Opne dokumentet fr

(+) den personlege mappa
di
(+) Kontakt
systemansvarleg
(+) favorittverktya dine

(-) Opne ditt dokument (-() fr di personlege mappe

Second possessive
included for clarification

(-) Kontakt din

systemansvarlege
(-) dine favorittverkty

Possessive to be omitted.
Possessive included for
clarification

Articles
General considerations
The indefinite article is often omitted in Norwegian Nynorsk. Plural is often used instead.
English
Translation
Do not use
Comment
You have to be logged on
as an Administrator
Formatting a disc

(+) Du m vere logga p

som administrator
(+) Formatere diskar

(-) Du m vere logga p

som ein administrator
(-) Formatere ein disk

If you have a problem ...

(+) Dersom du har

problem ...

(-) Dersom du har eit

problem ...

Plural form is more

idiomatic Norwegian
"Problem" is the same in
singular and plural

19

Unlocalized Feature Names

Microsoft product names and non-translated feature names are used without definite or indefinite articles in the
English language. The same applies to Norwegian Nynorsk.
Example: Internet Explorer
Localized Feature Names
This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.
Articles for English Borrowed Terms
When faced with an English loan word previously used in Microsoft products, consider the following options:
Motivation: Does the English word have any formally motivated features that would allow a
straightforward integration into the noun class system of Norwegian Nynorsk language?
Analogy: Is there an equivalent Norwegian Nynorsk term whose article could be used?
Frequency: Is the term used in other technical documentation? If so, what article is used most often?
The Internet may be a helpful reference here.
The masculine is commonly used. Examples of loan words and inflection:
Indefinite singular
Definite singular
Indefinite plural
Definite plural
ein chat
en SKU

chatten
SKUen

chattar
SKUar

chattane
SKUane

Capitalization
The English language tends to overuse capitals. This practice should not be followed in Norwegian Nynorsk.

Compounds
Generally, compounds should be understandable and clear to the user. Overly long or complex compounds
should be avoided. Keep in mind that unintuitive compounds are ultimately an intelligibility and usability issue.
Use a connective -e where possible:
Use
Do not use
(+) museknapp
(+) hjelpeemne
(+) tastekombinasjon

(-) musknapp
(-) hjelpemne, Hjelp-emne
(-) tastkombinasjon

In combinations with digits preceding a genitive, use a hyphen between the digit and the genitive and a space
between the genitive and the following part. Note that the grammatical number is defined by the cardinal number.
Use
Do not use
(+) 10-punkts skrift
(+) 32-bitars versjon

(-) 10 punkts skrift

(-) 32-bitarsversjon
20

Use

Do not use

(+) 9-pinnars kontakt

(+) 1-persons datamaskin

(-) 9-pinnes kontakt

(-) 1-personars
datamaskin

Gender
This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.

Genitive
Paraphrasing, often with prepositions, is recommended whenever possible. The s genitive can be used, but is
not as common as in Norwegian Bokml. The sin, si, sitt, sine genitive can also be used.
The s genitive is especially common with proper nouns and indefinite singular common nouns:
Norwegian Nynorsk
Comment
ei mils veg.
Noregs Bank
Vinjes skrifter

indefinite singular form.

proper noun
proper noun

The s genitive is not common with definite forms, and sin, si, sitt, sine can be used instead, unless it is
better to paraphrase:
Use
Try to avoid
(+) Kontakten sin personlege
nettstad
(+) Brukaren si handsaming av
fila
(+) Avsendaren sitt sertifikat

(-) Kontaktens personlege nettstad

(-) Brukarens handsaming av fila
(-) Avsendarens sertifikat

Paraphrasing, e.g. with prepositions, is often the best, and is used more often than in Norwegian Bokml:
English
Use
Possible
Do not use
You deleted the file's folder (+) Du sletta mappa som
fila lg i
Check your document's
(+) Kontroller endringane i
changes
dokumentet
the product's web site
(+) nettstaden for produktet
the document's recovery
(+) gjenopprettinga av
dokumentet

(+) Du sletta fila si mappe

(-) Du sletta filas mappe

(+) Kontroller dokumentet

sine endringer
(+) produktet sin nettstad
(+)
dokumentgjenopprettinga

(-) Kontroller dokumentets

endringar
(-) produktets nettstad
(-) dokumentets
gjenoppretting
21

Examples of the use of genitive in combination with numbers. See also Compounds.
Use
Do not use
(+) 10-punkts skrift
(+) 32-bitars versjon
(+) 9-pinnars kontakt
(+) 1-persons datamaskin

(-) 10 punkts skrift

(-) 32-bitarsversjon
(-) 9-pinnes kontakt
(-) 1-personars
datamaskin

Modifiers
This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.

Nouns
Inflection
Neuter words ending in -er or -el: In the definite singular form, when optional, do not use contracted forms:
Indefinite
Definite
et filter
et eksempel
et kapittel

filteret
eksempelet
kapittelet

For neuter words that can have a zero or marked ending in the indefinite plural, use a zero ending for all words:
Singular
Plural
eit felt
eit punkt
eit alternativ
eit program
eit kvantum
eit kriterium

flere felt
flere punkt
flere alternativ
fleire program
fleire kvantum
fleire kriterium

When a word can have an optional -ar or -rar ending in the indefinite plural, and -ane or -rane in the definite
plural, use the contracted forms -rar and -rane:
Indefinite singular
Definite singular
Indefinite plural
Definite plural
ein parameter

parameteren

parametrar

parametrane

22

Prepositions
Pay attention to the correct use of the preposition in translations. Note in particular that p is not to be used after
klikke and trykke.
Term
Example phrase and preposition
bruke
bruke
farge
feil
innhaldet

installere

klikke

komponent
lagre
legge til
liste
skrive

st/vere
trykkje
utsjnad
velje

noko til noko (means)

noko for gjere noko (purpose)
p noko
i line 13
i fila
i dokumentet
p utklippstavla
p harddisken
p nettverket
fr CD-ROMen
ein knapp (without preposition)
museknappen (without preposition)
i eit vindauge
i eit felt
i rullefeltet
noko p lysbiletet
noko p verktylina
i lista
i ei mappe
p ein harddisk
noko i lista
over brukarar
i eit dokument
i eit felt
p figuren
p menyen
ein tast (without preposition)
F1 (without preposition)
p noko
p menyen
fr lista

23

Pronouns
See Possessive adjectives.

Punctuation
General punctuation rules should be followed. Please refer to Vinjes Skriveregler.
Comma
When a comma is optional, we usually include it. This applies to short, conjunctive main clauses, particularly
imperative clauses:
Merk eit emne, og klikk Vis.
Colon
Use a colon before examples and instructions for clarification.
Example
Slik frigjer du plass p harddisken:
Try to make the sentence following a colon into an independent clause and follow the rule about using a capital
letter after a colon.
Semicolon
Semicolons are often seen in American English, but are rarely used in Norwegian Nynorsk. Use a period or a
comma instead.
English
Translation
This could be a complete sentence; this
could be another one.
Twelve workers started the project; only
five remain.

Dette kan vere ei fullstendig setning. Det

kan vere ei anna.
Tolv stykk begynte p prosjektet, men no
er det berre fem igjen.

Dashes and Hyphens

Three different dash characters are used in English:

Hyphen
The hyphen is used to divide words between syllables, to link parts of a compound word, and to connect the parts
of an inverted or imperative verb form. In Norwegian Nynorsk the hyphen is used to clarify confusing compounds
and in combination with abbreviations, digits, symbols, loan words, etc.
Examples
Vis-menyen
produkt-ID
24

Examples
386-utvida modus
proxy-tenar
alt-i-eitt-pakke
Use a hyphen when a combined construction consists of one implicit part. The hyphen is used to indicate the
implicit part. The full and the contracted part have to be of the same type.
Use
Do not use
(+) grunnversjon og avansert versjon
(+) maskin- og programvare
(+) papirretning og -storleik

(-) grunn- og avansert versjon

(-) maskin og programvare
(-) papirretning og storleik

Use a hyphen in combinations of digits, acronyms and proper nouns:

Example
16-pinnars kontakt
12-punkts skrift
OLE-kopling
Microsoft-program
Word-fil
Remember to use a non-breaking space whenever necessary to avoid unfortunate line breaks.
En Dash
Use an en dash (tankestrek) in number ranges, without surrounding spaces, and as a minus sign:
Example
side 114120
24 C
2 5 = 3
En dashes can also be used instead of parentheses or instead of commas around appositional phrases,
surrounded by spaces. Do not exaggerate the use of en dashes. Commas are often better.
Em Dash
The em dash (ANSI 0151) is used in English, but never in Norwegian Nynorsk.

25

Ellipses (Suspension Points)

Ellipses are often used following software commands in the user interface. Do not insert a space before an
ellipsis.
Example
Lagre som...
Suspension points are used to indicate an incomplete statement or the omission of a word or words from a written
text. These are to be preceded by a space.
Example
Lagre fila i denne mappa dersom du vil ...

Period
Insert only one space after a period.

Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are not as common in Norwegian Nynorsk as they are in English. They can be used when
referring to error messages or similar, but not in the following cases:
Quotation marks are not to be used when referring to software references, or to chapters or sections in
Norwegian Nynorsk user assistance material.
English
Translation
Please see "Deleting files".
Click "Table" on the "Insert" tab.

Sj Slette filer.
Klikk Tabell p kategorien Sett inn.

Parentheses

In English and Norwegian Nynorsk, there is no space between the parentheses and the text inside them.
Parentheses can be used to clarify examples or explaining acronyms.
Example
I staden for skrive filtypen, kan du bruke stjerne (*).
SDK (Software Development Kit)

26

Singular & Plural

This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.

Split Infinitive
You may split the infinitive marker from the verb.
Example
(+) Du har valt ikkje registrere programmet.
Be aware of sentences like the following, where the infinitive has to be split to avoid ambiguity.
English
Use
Do not use
You chose not to delete the files.

(+) Du valde ikkje slette filene.

(-) Du valde ikkje slette filene.

Subjunctive
This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.

Non-Breaking Spaces
To avoid unfortunate line breaks, use a non-breaking space (CTRL+SKIFT+MELLOMROM) between a number
and the measuring unit, as a thousand separator, in phone numbers, between product name and version number,
etc.
Examples
6 MB
kr 1 350 000
tlf. 22 02 25 00
Microsoft Office Word 2007

Syntax
This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.

27

Verbs
The following conjugation patterns are used:
Infinitive
Present

Past

Perfect

kaste
kvile

kasta
kvilte

kasta
kvilt

Conjugation of some frequently used verbs:

Infinitive
Present

Past

Perfect

gi
be
st
trykkje

gav
bad
stod
trykte

gitt
bede
sttt
trykt

kastar
kviler

gir
ber
str
trykkjer

Try to avoid -ast verbs (passive voice) in the present tense

Continuous operations are usually expressed in English with a gerund. This can also be used in Norwegian
Nynorsk, but is often turned into a regular verb form.
English
Translation
Editing images
... when saving your document

Redigere bilete
... ved lagring av dokumentet / ... nr du lagrar dokumentet

Norwegian Nynorsk -ing verbs are used to refer to an action, whereas -ning and -sjon are nominal forms generally
used to refer to the result of an action.
Exception: We always use installasjon, never installering, even when referring to the action.
English
Translation
publication
during the program installation

publisering (action) / publikasjon (result)

ved installasjon av programmet

Word Order
This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.

Style and Tone Considerations

This section focuses on higher-level considerations for audience, style, tone, and voice.

28

Audience
A product may be targeted at individual consumers, businesses, or internet audiences. When localizing a product,
please always keep in mind the target user audience and address the intended user with the appropriate tone and
level of grammar and formality, as well as reading level (e.g. technical register for IT professionals, childrens
register for children).

Style - Consistency and Idiomaticity

The language in Microsoft products should have the "Look and Feel" of a product originally written in Norwegian,
using idiomatic syntax and terminology, while at the same time maintaining a high level of terminological
consistency, so as to guarantee the maximum user experience and usability for our customers.
With regard to consistency and idiomaticity, the following general guideline should be followed:
Consistency must not be maintained at all costs and at the expense of idiomaticity, and vice versa.
The line between those two pillars is a thin one; therefore, this topic was designed to help find a balanced
approach.

Tone
The way you say something can strongly affect the person you are talking to. In fact, its not always what you say,
but how you say it that determines the response you get from your audience. This is why using the appropriate
tone and voice is critical to the success of any Microsoft product.
Please always keep in mind the target user audience and address the intended user with the appropriate tone
and level of grammar and formality, as well as reading level (e.g. technical register for IT professionals, childrens
register for children).

29

Localization Guidelines
This section contains guidelines for localization into Norwegian Nynorsk.

General Considerations
Abbreviations
Common Abbreviations

Avoid using abbreviations unless absolutely necessary due to lack of space. Abbreviations are normally not used
in running text, so you should spell out phrases like for eksempel (do not use til dmes) and og s vidare (do not
use og s bortetter).
Use conventional abbreviations when possible, and abbreviate using periods, except for kr (kroner) and
measuring units km (kilometer). Try to abbreviate words after a consonant or a cluster of consonants ("eks.",
"subst.").
For a list of common abbreviations, see Vinjes Skrivereglar.

Accessibility
Microsoft provides people with disabilities (single-handed or with hearing or motion disabilities) with more
accessible products and services. These may not be available in Norwegian Nynorsk. Please check with your
Microsoft contact and remove these references from Norwegian Nynorsk text if necessary.

Acronyms
Acronyms are words made up of the initial letters of major parts of a compound term. Some well-known examples
are WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), OLE (Object Linking and Embedding), or RAM (Random
Access Memory). Most acronyms are non-translatable.
Localized Acronyms

When acronyms are localized, the gender is usually masculine. They also tend to get the same gender as the last
or main word in the acronym, but there is no specific rule for this.
Examples of Norwegian acronyms are NAV and NAF.

30

Unlocalized Acronyms

Acronyms that remain in English should be explained in parentheses the first time they occur, or you can use the
full term with the acronym in parentheses. Then you can use the acronym alone throughout the rest of the text.
Example: Ei programinformasjonsfil (PIF) inneheld ... PIFen er lagret ...
Write the description in English unless a translation gives the same acronym.
Examples: PIF (programinformasjonsfil), RAM (Random Access Memory)
If a Norwegian Nynorsk term exists, you can write this term followed by the acronym and then an English
description in parentheses if necessary.
Example: lokalnett (LAN Local Area Network)

Applications, Products, and Features

Application/product names are often trademarked or may be trademarked in the future and are therefore rarely
translated. Occasionally, feature names are trademarked, too (e.g. IntelliSense). Before translating any
application, product, or feature name, please verify that it is in fact translatable and not protected in any way.

Frequent Errors
English

Use

Do not use

web page

(+) nettside

click OK
press F1
installation of
the PC

(+) klikk OK
(+) trykk F1
(+) installasjon av
(+) PCen
(+) IBMs

(-) webside
(-) web-side
(-) Webside
(-) Web-side
(-) nett-side
(-) klikk p OK
(-) trykk p F1
(-) installering av
(-) PC-en
(-) IBM-s
(-) IBMs
(-) For lagre, klikk CTRL+S
(-) Formatering-verktylina
(-) verktylina Formatering
(-) applikasjon
(-) viss
(-) bare
(-) prv igjen
(-) PCen din
(-) 32-bits versjon

IBMs
To save, click Ctrl+S
the Formatting toolbar
application
if
only
try again
your PC
32 bit version

(+) Klikk CTRL+S for lagre

(+) formateringsverktylina
(+) program
(+) dersom
(+) berre
(+) prv p nytt
(+) PCen
(+) 32-bitars versjon

31

English

connect
Close button
Close Window button
Close This Window button
the XXX dialog
the XXX tab
Note!
Tip!
Warning!

See www.microsoft.com.

Use

(+) kople til

(+) Lukk-knappen
(+) Lukk vindauge-knappen
(+) knappen Lukk dette
vindauget
(+) dialogboksen XXX
(+) kategorien XXX
(+) Obs! Xxx ...
(+) Tips! Xxx ...
(+) tvaring! Xxx ...
(These should always be
followed by a double space)
(+) Sj
http://www.microsoft.com/

Do not use
(-) 32 bitars versjon
(-) 32-bitarsversjon
(-) tilkople
(-) knappen Lukk
(-) knappen Lukk vindauge
(-) Lukk dette vindaugetknappen
(-) XXX-dialogboksen
(-) XXX-kategorien
(-) Obs! Xxx ...
(-) Tips! Xxx ...
(-) tvaring! Xxx ...

(-) Sj www.microsoft.com.

Glossaries
Use Nynorskordboka for generic terminology searches and grammar:
Nynorskordboka, Det norske samlaget, Oslo 2001 (click here for web search)

Fictitious Information
Fictitious content is legally sensitive material and as such cannot be handled as a pure terminology or localization
issue. Below is some basic information and contact points when dealing with fictitious content:
Vendors and Localizers are not allowed to create their own fictitious names. You must either use the source
names or use the list of legally approved names. Your product team representative will be able to provide you
with the list of legally approved names.
Please contact your product team representative for further information on how to deal with fictitious companies,
names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, etc. in your product. For technical products, you may also
check with the product team representative whether localized fictitious content is required or not (e.g. Visual
Studio).

Recurring Patterns
This section does not apply to Norwegian Nynorsk.

32

Standardized Translations
There are a number of standardized translations mentioned in all sections of this Style Guide. In order to find
them more easily, the most relevant topics and sections are compiled here for you reference.
Country/Region Standards: currency, numbers, dates, etc.
Prepositions: use of prepositions
Abbreviations: list of common abbreviations
Messages: list of standard messages
Frequent Errors: list of frequent errors

Unlocalized Items
Trademarked names and the name Microsoft Corporation should not be localized. A list of Microsoft trademarks is
available for your reference at the following location: http://www.microsoft.com/trademarks/t-mark/names.htm.
The following is a list of UI words that are written the same way in the target language as in English.
Word
Agent
Album
Alias
CD-ROM
Data
Database
Datatype
Digital ID
DVD
Gateway
Logging
Logo
Modem
OK
Parameter
Problem
Program
Proxy
Send
Side
Standard
Start
Status
Stereo
33

Word
Sum
Symbol
Tips
Total
Video
Zoom

Using the Word Microsoft

In English, it is prohibited to use MS as an abbreviation for Microsoft. The same rule applies to Norwegian
Nynorsk. This also applies if MS is used in English (i.e. the English is not correct).
English
Use
Do not use
MS software

(+) Microsoft-programvare
(+) Programvare fr Microsoft

(-) MS-programvare
(-) Programvare fr MS

Software Considerations
This section refers to all menus, menu items, commands, buttons, check boxes, etc., which should be consistently
translated in the localized product.
Refer to http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/aa511258.aspx for a detailed explanation of the Windows user interface
guidelines (English).

User Interface
The following are some standard translations for basic UI elements and menus. When in doubt, always check the
context to ensure the correct translation.
English
Norwegian
Comments
<ProgramName> Options
All
Cancel
Change
Clear
Create
Delete
Design
Directory
Display
Done

Alternativ for <ProgramName>

Alt, Alle, All
Avbryt
Endre
Fjern, Tm
Opprett, Lag
Slett
Utforming
Katalog
Vis, Vising, Skjerm
Fullfrt

Context dependent

Context dependent
Context dependent

Context dependent
Context dependent

34

English

Norwegian

Edit
Exit
File
Folder
Formatting toolbar

Rediger
Avslutt
Fil
Mappe
formateringsverktylina

Insert
Layout
New
OK
Open
Print
Print Preview
Properties
Remove
Save
Select
Settings
Setup
Standard toolbar

Set inn
Oppsett
Ny, Nytt, Nye
OK
Opne, Open, Ope
Skriv ut
Frehandsvising
Eigenskapar
Fjern
Lagre
Vel, Merk
Innstillingar
Installasjon, Konfigurering
Standardverktylina

Start button
Start menu
Tools
View

Startknappen, Start
Start-menyen
Verkty
Vis, Vising

Comments

Toolbars are referred to generically in

Norwegian Nynorsk

Context dependent
Context dependent

Context dependent
Context dependent
Toolbars are referred to generically in
Norwegian Nynorsk
Do not use Start-knappen

Context and Office version dependent

Messages
Messages need to be clear and concise and convey the same meaning as the source text.

Status Messages
What is a Status Bar Message?

A status bar message is an informational message about the active document or a selected command as well as
about any active or selected interface item. Messages are shown in the status bar at the bottom of the window
when the user has chosen a menu, a command or any other item, or has started a function. The status bar
messages refer to actions being performed or already complete (for example in Outlook below).

35

Norwegian Nynorsk Style in Status bar Messages

In English, the status bar messages have different forms dependent on the information they must convey. In
Norwegian Nynorsk, menu and commands status bar messages should follow the format below.

Name
Edit
Copy to
Folder...
New

Norwegian Nynorsk
Name
Rediger
Kopier til mappe...
Ny

Category

English Status Bar

message

menu

Contains editing commands

menu

Copies the selected items to

another location

command

Creates a new document

Make object visible?
Word is converting the
document. Press Esc to
stop.
Datasheet View
Done

Norwegian Nynorsk
Status Bar message
Inneheld kommandoar for
redigering
Kopierer valde element til
ei annan plassering
Oppretter eit nytt
dokument
Skal objektet vere
synleg?
Dokumentet blir
konvertert. Trykk ESC for
avbryte.
Dataarkvising
Fullfrt

The importance of standardization

In the US product you can often find messages that are phrased differently even though they have the same
meaning. Try to avoid this in the localized Norwegian Nynorsk version. Use one standard translation as in the
examples below:
English term
Correct Norwegian Nynorsk translation
Press F1 to get Help
If you want Help press F1
To get Help press F1
Not enough memory
Insufficient memory
There is not enough memory
Save changes to %1?
Do you want to save changes to %1?

Trykk F1 dersom du vil ha hjelp

Ikkje nok minne

Vil du lagre endringar i %1?

36

Error Messages
What Is An Error Message?
Here is an example:

Other examples:
English

Translation

Cannot copy to the XX folder.

Cannot delete saved password.
Failed to delete selected network.
Could not create file.

Kan ikkje kopiere til mappa XX.

Kan ikkje slette lagra passord.
Kan ikkje slette det valde nettverket.
Kan ikkje opprette fil.

Error messages are messages sent by the system or a program, informing the user that there is an error that
must be corrected in order for the program to keep running. For example, the messages can prompt the user to
take an action or inform the user of an error that requires rebooting the computer.
Norwegian Nynorsk Style in Error Messages

It is important to use consistent terminology and language style in the localized error messages, and not just
translate as they appear in the US product. Use, for instance, the same wording in Norwegian error messages,
even if the original English uses different words. As in the example above, error messages can most often be
written with the words Kan ikkje followed by a verb in the infitive form.
Standard Phrases in Error Messages
When translating standard phrases, standardize. Note that sometimes the US uses different forms to express the
same thing.
37

English

Translation

Comment

Kan ikkje ...

Use the present tense in

Norwegian Nynorsk

Finn ikkje ...

Use the present tense in

Norwegian Nynorsk

<ProgramName> cannot open

...

Kan ikkje opne ...

Omit the program name from the

Norwegian Nynorsk version to
avoid personalization

Not enough memory

Insufficient memory
There is not enough memory
There is not enough memory
available

Ikkje nok minne

Cannot
Could not
Failed to
Cannot find
Could not find
Unable to find
Unable to locate

Error Messages Containing Placeholders

When localizing error messages containing placeholders, try to find out what will replace the placeholder. This is
necessary for the sentence to be grammatically correct when the placeholder is replaced with a word or phrase.
Note that the letters used in placeholders convey a specific meaning, see examples below:
%d, %ld, %u, and %lu means <number>
%c means <letter>
%s means <string>
Examples of error messages containing placeholders:
"Checking Web %1!d! of %2!d!" means "Checking Web <number> of <number>".
"INI file "%1!-.200s!" section" means "INI file "<string>" section".
English

Translation

repeat every {0} for a

duration of {1}

gjenta kvar(t) {0} i {1}

In the {0} dialog, click {1}.

Klikk {1} i dialogboksen

{0}.

Comment
{0} = day/week/year in this example.
Parentheses added because we need to
cover for both the masculine and the neuter
form.
{1} = time duration in this example, eg. "5
dagar", 3 veker".
Different word order in Norwegian Bokml.
The placeholders need to change places
accordingly.

38

Placeholders are often surrounded by single or double quotes in the English source text. Quotes should be
avoided in the Norwegian Bokml software. If they are needed in order to clarify the string, use straight double
quotes.
English

Use

Do not use

%1 was successfully
installed on your computer

(+) %1 blei installert p

datamaskina

(-) "%1" blei installert p

datamaskina

Keys
The keyboard is the primary input device used for text input in Microsoft Windows. For accessibility and efficiency,
most actions can be performed using the keyboard as well. While working with Microsoft software, you use keys,
key combinations and key sequences.
In English, references to key names, like arrow keys, function keys and numeric keys, appear in normal text (not
in small caps). In Norwegian Nynorsk, all keys are written in capital letters in help and documentation: INS, ESC,
ENTER, HOME, etc.

Access Keys/Hot keys

Sometimes, there are underlined or highlighted letters in menu options, commands or dialog boxes. These letters
refer to access keys (also known as hot keys) that allow you to run commands, perform tasks, etc. more quickly.
Whenever possible, choose a hotkey that makes the most sense in Norwegian Nynorsk. Try using the same
hotkey for a term occurring several places. Highly visible options like main menus and common commands
typically use initial letter hotkeys.
Hot Key Special Options

Usage: Is It Allowed?

Notes

"Slim characters", such as i, l, t, f can

Yes

Only when no other characters are

39

Hot Key Special Options

be used as hot key
Characters with downstrokes, such
as g, j, y, p and q can be used as
hotkeys
Extended characters can be used as
hotkeys
An additional letter, appearing
between brackets after item name,
can be used as hotkeys
A number, appearing between
brackets after item name, can be
used as hotkey
A punctuation sign, appearing
between brackets after item name,
can be used as hotkey
Duplicate hotkeys are allowed when
no other character is available
No hotkey is assigned when no more
characters are available (minor
options only)

Usage: Is It Allowed?

Notes

Yes

available
Only when no other characters are
available

Yes

Only when no other characters are

available

No

No

No

Yes
No

Additional notes: n/a

Arrow Keys
The arrow keys move input focus among the controls within a group. Pressing the right arrow key moves input
focus to the next control in tab order, whereas pressing the left arrow moves input focus to the previous control.
Home, End, Up, and Down also have their expected behavior within a group. Users can't navigate out of a control
group using arrow keys.

Numeric Keypad
It is recommended that you avoid distinguishing numeric keypad keys from the other keys, unless it is required by
a given application. In case which keys to be pressed is not obvious, provide necessary explanations.

Shortcut Keys
Shortcut keys are keystrokes or combinations of keystrokes used to perform defined functions in a software
application. Shortcut keys replace menu commands and they are sometimes given next to the command they
represent. In opposition to the access keys, which can be used only when available on the screen, shortcut keys
can be used even when they are not accessible on the screen.
40

Standard Shortcut Keys

US
Command

US English
Shortcut Key

Norwegian Nynorsk
Command

Norwegian Nynorsk
Shortcut key

General Windows Shortcut keys

Help window
Context-sensitive Help
Display pop-up menu
Cancel
Activate\Deactivate
menu bar mode
Switch to the next
primary application
Display next window
Display pop-up menu
for the window
Display pop-up menu
for the active child
window
Display property sheet
for current selection
Close active
application window
Switch to next window
within (modelesscompliant) application
Capture active window
image to the Clipboard
Capture desktop
image to the Clipboard
Access Start button in
taskbar
Display next child
window
Display next tabbed
pane
Launch Task Manager
and system
initialization

F1
Shift+F1
Shift+F10
Esc
F10

Help window
Context-sensitive Help
Display pop-up menu
Cancel
Activate\Deactivate menu bar
mode
Switch to the next primary
application
Display next window
Display pop-up menu for the
window
Display pop-up menu for the
active child window

F1
Shift+F1
Shift+F10
Esc
F10

Display property sheet for current

selection
Close active application window

Alt+Enter

Alt+F6

Switch to next window within

(modeless-compliant) application

Alt+F6

Alt+Prnt Scrn

Alt+Prnt Scrn

Ctrl+Esc

Capture active window image to

the Clipboard
Capture desktop image to the
Clipboard
Access Start button in taskbar

Ctrl+F6

Display next child window

Ctrl+F6

Ctrl+Tab

Display next tabbed pane

Ctrl+Tab

Ctrl+Shift+Esc

Launch Task Manager and

system initialization

Ctrl+Shift+Esc

Alt+Tab
Alt+Esc
Alt+Spacebar
Alt+-

Alt+Enter
Alt+F4

Prnt Scrn

Alt+Tab
Alt+Esc
Alt+Spacebar
Alt+-

Alt+F4

Prnt Scrn
Ctrl+Esc

41

US
Command

US English
Shortcut Key

Norwegian Nynorsk
Command

Norwegian Nynorsk
Shortcut key

File Menu
File New
File Open
File Close
File Save
File Save as
File Print Preview
File Print
File Exit

Ctrl+N
Ctrl+O
Ctrl+F4
Ctrl+S
F12
Ctrl+F2
Ctrl+P
Alt+F4

Fil Ny
Fil Opne
Fil Lukk
Fil Lagre
Fil Lagre som
Fil Frehandsvising
Fil Skriv ut
Fil Avslutt
Edit Menu

Ctrl+N
Ctrl+O
Ctrl+F4
Ctrl+S
F12
Ctrl+F2
Ctrl+P
Alt+F4

Edit Undo
Edit Repeat
Edit Cut
Edit Copy
Edit Paste
Edit Delete
Edit Select All
Edit Find

Ctrl+Z
Ctrl+Y
Ctrl+X
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+V
Ctrl+Backspace
Ctrl+A
Ctrl+F

Rediger Angre
Rediger Gjenta
Rediger Klipp ut
Rediger Kopier
Rediger Lim inn
Rediger Slett
Rediger Merk alt
Rediger Sk

Ctrl+Z
Ctrl+Y
Ctrl+X
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+V
Ctrl+Backspace
Ctrl+A
Ctrl+B

Edit Replace
Edit Go To

Ctrl+H
Ctrl+B

Rediger Erstatt
Rediger G til

Ctrl+H
Ctrl+G

Help Menu
Help

F1

Hjelp

F1
Font Format

Italic

Ctrl+I

Kursiv

Ctrl+K

Bold

Ctrl+G

Fet

Ctrl+F

Underlined\Word
underline
Large caps
Small caps

Ctrl+U

Understreking

Ctrl+U

Ctrl+Shift+A
Ctrl+Shift+K

Store bokstavar
Kapitl
Paragraph Format

Ctrl+Shift+A
Ctrl+Shift+K

Centered
Left aligned
Right aligned

Ctrl+E
Ctrl+L
Ctrl+R

Midtstill
Juster tekst venstre
Juster tekst hgre

Ctrl+E
Ctrl+L
Ctrl+R
42

US
Command

US English
Shortcut Key

Norwegian Nynorsk
Command

Norwegian Nynorsk
Shortcut key

Justified

Ctrl+J

Blokkjuster

Ctrl+J

Document Translation Considerations

Document localization may require some specific considerations that are different from software localization. This
section covers a few of these areas.

Titles
In English the titles for chapters usually begin with "How to " or with phrases such as "Working with " or
"Using ". In the Norwegian Nynorsk version of Microsoft documentation, titles should begin with a verb in
infinitive form, alternatively a sentence beginning with "Slik ..." and ending with a colon.
Example:

To free up some disk space:

Slik frigjer du plass p harddisken:
Frigjere plass p harddisken

Copyright
Copyright protection is granted to any original work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression from
which it can be perceived, reproduced, or communicated.
Follow the word order used in the source text. Do not switch places for company name and year. Years in
copyright strings must not be changed without the product teams approval. The term "Copyright" is not to be
localised. This is a standard translation:
English

Translation

Copyright 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All Copyright 2007 Microsoft Corporation.

rights reserved.
Med einerett.

43