Writing & StyleStyle guide

Using Clear for Checkbox Selections

Using Clear for Checkbox Selections records a distinct source-supported procedure-writing task while keeping adjacent UI behavior, accessibility concerns, and implementation mechanics outside the page.

Quick answer

Use “clear” when instructing the customer to remove the selection from a checkbox.

Key details

Core Issueusing clear for checkbox selections
Registertechnical and professional writing

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

This guidance is for clearing a checkbox selection, not for deleting text, dismissing content, or clearing unrelated data.

Further guidance

Content

Use “clear” when instructing the customer to remove the selection from a checkbox.

Purpose

This names the checkbox action directly and avoids less precise input-specific wording.

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. Describing interactions with the UI — Microsoft Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Current Microsoft Style Guide evidence for input-neutral UI action verbs including open, close, go to, select, choose, clear, enter, switch/turn on/turn off, move/drag, move through, and zoom.

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