Learn English – “tap on the button” vs “tap the button”

prepositionsword-usage

I am trying to figure out which term to use when writing a "help text" or giving messages to the user on an app.

Should I say:

  • tap the button OR
  • tap on the button

  • tap the item OR

  • tap on the item

  • tap the word OR

  • tap on the word

Best Answer

Either is acceptable. The first, however, is simpler; in this case, the 'on' is understood, and therefore redundant. Someone would normally tap on an icon, word, link, etc., unless there was a reason they would expect to be tapping above, or below, or beside it. In this case, since a tap of an element is normally understood to be a tap on the element, the extra word is redundant.