Writing & StyleStyle guide

Formatting File Names in Technical Documentation

Formatting File Names in Technical Documentation records the relevant Microsoft Style Guide convention while keeping it explicitly house-style scoped rather than presenting it as a universal grammar rule.

Quick answer

Use title-style capitalization for ordinary file-name references; internal capitals are acceptable for readability, and switch to code style when the name is shown in code syntax.

Key details

Core IssueMicrosoft style uses title-style capitalization for file names, allows internal capitals for readability, and applies code style when the file name appears as code syntax.
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Important caveats

Scope Boundary

The convention is Microsoft technical style; when documenting a real file whose exact casing matters, reproduce the actual file name rather than normalizing it.

Further guidance

Content

Use title-style capitalization for ordinary file-name references; internal capitals are acceptable for readability, and switch to code style when the name is shown in code syntax.

Purpose

Keep literal file names recognizable while distinguishing prose references from executable or code-syntax contexts.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Formatting common text elements — Microsoft Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Microsoft technical-style conventions for error messages and common text elements
  2. Formatting text in instructions — Microsoft Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Current Microsoft technical-style conventions for formatting UI references, user input, commands, code-related elements, and other text in instructions.

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