wysiwyg

views updated May 23 2018

wysiwyg Acronym for what you see is what you get, a catch phrase coined by Flip Wilson in his `Geraldine Jones' impersonation in 1969. In computer systems it has come to mean a system where the screen displays text and graphics almost exactly as it would be printed. There may be minor differences in resolution and fonts used. Wysiwyg is considered to be a desirable feature of word processing, desktop publishing, and other programs where the appearance of the final printed product is important.

A Dictionary of Computing JOHN DAINTITH

WYSIWYG

views updated Jun 08 2018

WYSIWYG / ˈwizēˌwig/ (also wysiwyg) • adj. Comput. denoting the representation of text on screen in a form exactly corresponding to its appearance on a printout.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

WYSIWYG

views updated May 11 2018

WYSIWYG denoting the representation of text on-screen in a form exactly corresponding to its appearance on a printout; acronym (dating from the 1980s) from what you see is what you get.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

wysiwyg

views updated Jun 08 2018

wysiwyg (or WYSIWYG) (ˈwɪzɪˌwɪg) Computing what you see (on the screen) is what you get (from the printer)

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH