Is the term “carriage return” outdated in a (near) post-typewriter world?
When we say "Return key" or "Enter key", either are clear in meaning to those with even very light keyboarding experience. But "Return" is a diminutive of "Carriage Return". Fully saying/writing "Carriage Return" may be unfamiliar to the ears of those who work with computers daily yet have never touched a typewriter.
In a computing sense "Carriage Return" (ASCII character 13) DOES mean something very different in comparison to "Line Feed" (ASCII character 10). So, for a certain audience, "Carriage Return" is meaningful. But for a broad audience, should "Carriage Return key" be avoided and "Return key" be the preferred usage?
word-usage archaic technology
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
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When we say "Return key" or "Enter key", either are clear in meaning to those with even very light keyboarding experience. But "Return" is a diminutive of "Carriage Return". Fully saying/writing "Carriage Return" may be unfamiliar to the ears of those who work with computers daily yet have never touched a typewriter.
In a computing sense "Carriage Return" (ASCII character 13) DOES mean something very different in comparison to "Line Feed" (ASCII character 10). So, for a certain audience, "Carriage Return" is meaningful. But for a broad audience, should "Carriage Return key" be avoided and "Return key" be the preferred usage?
word-usage archaic technology
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
1061
New contributor
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
What is this "typewriter" thing?
– Hot Licks
16 hours ago
1
This is context dependent. Many computer keyboards have an enter key and no return key, but Macs notably have return keys. People who care about keyboards enough to talk about them or read what you write about them may be more familiar with historical keyboards and how they are different from modern keyboards. You have to know your audience to know what words to use to get across the idea you intend.
– jejorda2
16 hours ago
2
Do you have any evidence that carriage return is not understood by anyone? Barring that, this is an entirely subjective question without any clear answer.
– Jason Bassford
16 hours ago
'return' for the key or action of moving the cursor to the beginning of the next line, 'newline' for the (invisible?) character indicating to do so.
– Mitch
16 hours ago
1
My personal preference: I useReturnfor the key,Carriage Returnfor the character.
– michael.hor257k
15 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
When we say "Return key" or "Enter key", either are clear in meaning to those with even very light keyboarding experience. But "Return" is a diminutive of "Carriage Return". Fully saying/writing "Carriage Return" may be unfamiliar to the ears of those who work with computers daily yet have never touched a typewriter.
In a computing sense "Carriage Return" (ASCII character 13) DOES mean something very different in comparison to "Line Feed" (ASCII character 10). So, for a certain audience, "Carriage Return" is meaningful. But for a broad audience, should "Carriage Return key" be avoided and "Return key" be the preferred usage?
word-usage archaic technology
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
1061
New contributor
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
When we say "Return key" or "Enter key", either are clear in meaning to those with even very light keyboarding experience. But "Return" is a diminutive of "Carriage Return". Fully saying/writing "Carriage Return" may be unfamiliar to the ears of those who work with computers daily yet have never touched a typewriter.
In a computing sense "Carriage Return" (ASCII character 13) DOES mean something very different in comparison to "Line Feed" (ASCII character 10). So, for a certain audience, "Carriage Return" is meaningful. But for a broad audience, should "Carriage Return key" be avoided and "Return key" be the preferred usage?
word-usage archaic technology
word-usage archaic technology
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
1061
New contributor
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
1061
New contributor
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
1061
New contributor
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
1061
asked 16 hours ago
jschrab
1061
1061
New contributor
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
jschrab is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
What is this "typewriter" thing?
– Hot Licks
16 hours ago
1
This is context dependent. Many computer keyboards have an enter key and no return key, but Macs notably have return keys. People who care about keyboards enough to talk about them or read what you write about them may be more familiar with historical keyboards and how they are different from modern keyboards. You have to know your audience to know what words to use to get across the idea you intend.
– jejorda2
16 hours ago
2
Do you have any evidence that carriage return is not understood by anyone? Barring that, this is an entirely subjective question without any clear answer.
– Jason Bassford
16 hours ago
'return' for the key or action of moving the cursor to the beginning of the next line, 'newline' for the (invisible?) character indicating to do so.
– Mitch
16 hours ago
1
My personal preference: I useReturnfor the key,Carriage Returnfor the character.
– michael.hor257k
15 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2
What is this "typewriter" thing?
– Hot Licks
16 hours ago
1
This is context dependent. Many computer keyboards have an enter key and no return key, but Macs notably have return keys. People who care about keyboards enough to talk about them or read what you write about them may be more familiar with historical keyboards and how they are different from modern keyboards. You have to know your audience to know what words to use to get across the idea you intend.
– jejorda2
16 hours ago
2
Do you have any evidence that carriage return is not understood by anyone? Barring that, this is an entirely subjective question without any clear answer.
– Jason Bassford
16 hours ago
'return' for the key or action of moving the cursor to the beginning of the next line, 'newline' for the (invisible?) character indicating to do so.
– Mitch
16 hours ago
1
My personal preference: I useReturnfor the key,Carriage Returnfor the character.
– michael.hor257k
15 hours ago
2
2
What is this "typewriter" thing?
– Hot Licks
16 hours ago
What is this "typewriter" thing?
– Hot Licks
16 hours ago
1
1
This is context dependent. Many computer keyboards have an enter key and no return key, but Macs notably have return keys. People who care about keyboards enough to talk about them or read what you write about them may be more familiar with historical keyboards and how they are different from modern keyboards. You have to know your audience to know what words to use to get across the idea you intend.
– jejorda2
16 hours ago
This is context dependent. Many computer keyboards have an enter key and no return key, but Macs notably have return keys. People who care about keyboards enough to talk about them or read what you write about them may be more familiar with historical keyboards and how they are different from modern keyboards. You have to know your audience to know what words to use to get across the idea you intend.
– jejorda2
16 hours ago
2
2
Do you have any evidence that carriage return is not understood by anyone? Barring that, this is an entirely subjective question without any clear answer.
– Jason Bassford
16 hours ago
Do you have any evidence that carriage return is not understood by anyone? Barring that, this is an entirely subjective question without any clear answer.
– Jason Bassford
16 hours ago
'return' for the key or action of moving the cursor to the beginning of the next line, 'newline' for the (invisible?) character indicating to do so.
– Mitch
16 hours ago
'return' for the key or action of moving the cursor to the beginning of the next line, 'newline' for the (invisible?) character indicating to do so.
– Mitch
16 hours ago
1
1
My personal preference: I use
Return for the key, Carriage Return for the character.– michael.hor257k
15 hours ago
My personal preference: I use
Return for the key, Carriage Return for the character.– michael.hor257k
15 hours ago
|
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2
What is this "typewriter" thing?
– Hot Licks
16 hours ago
1
This is context dependent. Many computer keyboards have an enter key and no return key, but Macs notably have return keys. People who care about keyboards enough to talk about them or read what you write about them may be more familiar with historical keyboards and how they are different from modern keyboards. You have to know your audience to know what words to use to get across the idea you intend.
– jejorda2
16 hours ago
2
Do you have any evidence that carriage return is not understood by anyone? Barring that, this is an entirely subjective question without any clear answer.
– Jason Bassford
16 hours ago
'return' for the key or action of moving the cursor to the beginning of the next line, 'newline' for the (invisible?) character indicating to do so.
– Mitch
16 hours ago
1
My personal preference: I use
Returnfor the key,Carriage Returnfor the character.– michael.hor257k
15 hours ago