Action buttons and web forms
Forms should be much more than labels and boxes lined up in a column. LukeW offers a very thoughtful overview of some of the styling and layout issues in designing useful forms.
First he summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of label placement next to form elements. Each option for placing the labels—above the input boxes, to the left and left justifed or to the left and right justified—impacts the readability of the form as well as its layout.
Another important usability issue is the action buttons at the bottom of the form. Too many WYSIWYG programs automatically dump a Submit and Reset button at the bottom of the form. They look the same and are right next to each other—it’s too easy to clear the form rather than submitting it. Solution: position the secondary action button at the right, with a more neutral background color (or better, style it as a text link rather than a button).