Jon Wolski says:

This is similar to a W3 QA tip from last century. True, “click” is so ubiquitous that it is understood to mean “invoke” or “activate,” but that ubiquity has rendered it cognitive noise at this point. While this tip suggests linking the noun, a button should contain the text of the desired verb. In accompanying explanation, that verb should suffice.

For the record, I’d say “Choose an option and…go vote in the poll.”

Sunny Singh says:

Usually it depends. For example, it doesn’t really make sense to say “choose the Update button” since I doubt there’s a choice implying a similar action. It would make more sense in cases where the user has to choose an option or something like checkboxes.

I decided to go with the last one since it makes sure the user updates what they’re trying to do, which is by clicking/pressing/tapping the update button.

It does sound a bit weird though, so press would’ve been my second choice. When I hear the directions “click on this” or whatever sounds very ammateurish. Remember how you shouldn’t use the words “click this” when creating links? Well it should apply the same way in this case.

George Egonut says:

Boom. That’s the way to do it.

John says:

I like ‘click’ over ‘press’ and ‘choose’.
So that narrows the list for me to two options.
The last choice has no verb, I believe a verb is necessary/desirable.

I use ‘press’ when I refer to keys like ‘press the Control button’.

I use ‘choose’ when referring to a dropdown.

“Select a user and then click Update.” is my choice.

Short and sweet.

jonleesmith says:

I third this