moving your cursor over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moving your cursor over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in the context of computer interfaces, particularly when describing actions taken with a mouse or trackpad to interact with elements on a screen. Example: "To access the hidden menu, try moving your cursor over the icon in the corner."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Open the Charms Bar in Windows 8 by moving your cursor over to the bottom right.

WikiHow

Once you have bought or grown your chili, select your newtgat by moving your cursor over it and pressing A. Now find your pepper.

WikiHow

A simple way you can catch this is buy moving your cursor over the link and looking at the bottom of your browser on the status bar.

WikiHow

You can always clear individual entries from the address bar in most browsers by clicking the down arrow, moving your cursor over the entry to highlight it, and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Clicking on a league brings up its constituent clubs, after which you can either move your cursor over a team to see where it has bought from and sold to, or click a club to browse the details of each individual transfer.

The Guardian

Click an athlete's name in the top panel to view a breakdown of their best performances in the two tables at the bottom of the graphic, and move your cursor over the values to see extra information, such as the meet where a result was recorded and the year in which a personal best was set.

The Guardian - Sport

Move your cursor over the images for credit information.

Huffington Post

Move your cursor over each for credit information.

Huffington Post

Move your cursor over the images for credits and more information.

Huffington Post

It is scheduled to launch on Earth Day, April 22. Move your cursor over the images for credit information.

Huffington Post

You just move your cursor over the mannequin and using Delaunay triangulation it translates your movements into black triangles.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving instructions for interacting with a user interface, be specific about the element the user should place the cursor over. For example, "moving your cursor over the 'Submit' button" provides clear direction.

Common error

Avoid using "pointer" and "cursor" interchangeably without context. While they often refer to the same visual element, "cursor" generally refers to the blinking line in text fields, while "pointer" usually refers to the arrow or hand used for selecting items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moving your cursor over" functions as an instruction or description of a user interface action. As Ludwig indicates, it's commonly used to explain how to interact with elements on a screen, often to trigger an event or reveal information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

65%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "moving your cursor over" is grammatically sound and serves as a practical instruction, as determined by Ludwig. Although it's not exceedingly common, with a limited number of examples, it's appropriate for describing interactions with digital interfaces. It is most frequently found in Wiki and News & Media contexts, reflecting its role in how-to guides and general instructions. Ludwig indicates that it's best used to direct users in navigating digital interfaces, revealing functionalities, or accessing additional details. Alternative phrases such as "hovering your mouse over" can be considered for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hovering your mouse over

Uses 'mouse' instead of 'cursor', implying a physical mouse device, and uses 'hovering' which is more common

positioning your pointer over

Replaces 'cursor' with 'pointer', a synonym, and uses 'positioning', which is a more formal verb.

placing your cursor on

Uses 'placing' which suggests a more deliberate action than "moving".

sliding your cursor across

Uses 'sliding' to emphasize the movement across a surface.

dragging your cursor to

Suggests a more active movement with the intention of reaching a specific target.

running your cursor along

Implies moving the cursor along a defined path or line.

bringing your cursor onto

Emphasizes the action of bringing the cursor into a specific area.

resting your cursor on

Suggests placing the cursor on something and leaving it there.

navigating your cursor to

Indicates guiding the cursor to a specific destination.

guiding your cursor over

Similar to navigating, but emphasizes control and direction.

FAQs

How do I rephrase the instruction "moving your cursor over"?

You can use phrases like "hovering your mouse over", "positioning your pointer over", or "placing your cursor on" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "moving your cursor over" and "hovering your cursor over"?

While similar, "moving your cursor over" suggests a more active action, while "hovering your cursor over" implies a less deliberate action of simply positioning the cursor in a certain area without clicking.

When is it appropriate to use "moving your cursor over" in technical writing?

It's appropriate when providing instructions for software or website interaction, especially when describing how to reveal additional information or activate a function by positioning the cursor on a specific element.

What are some common synonyms for "cursor"?

Common synonyms include "pointer", "mouse pointer", and "arrow". The best choice depends on the specific context and the type of device being used.