(DOCSP-21083): Prefer 'lts' to 'major' release (#731) (#746)

* (DOCSP-20183): Prefer 'lts' to 'major' release

* word tweaks

* tweak

* updates per review

* updates per review

Author: jeff-allen-mongo

source/reference/versioning.txt

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 MongoDB Versioning
 ==================
 
+.. |lts| replace:: Long-Term Support
+
 .. important:: 
 
    Always upgrade to the latest stable revision of your release series.
@@ -14,18 +16,18 @@ release series and ``Z`` refers to the patch number.
 Starting with MongoDB 5.0, MongoDB is released as two different release
 series:
 
-- Major Releases
+- |lts| Releases
 - Rapid Releases
 
 For MongoDB 4.4 and previous, MongoDB used a Production / Development
 versioning system. See :ref:`historical-releases`.
 
-Major Releases
+|lts| Releases
 --------------
 
-Major Releases are made available approximately once a year, and
-generally mark the introduction of new features and improvements.
-Major Releases are appropriate for all MongoDB deployments.
+|lts| Releases are made available approximately once a year, and
+introduce new features and improvements. |lts| Releases are supported
+for MongoDB Atlas and on-premises deployments.
 
 *Example versions:*
 
@@ -37,17 +39,14 @@ Major Releases are appropriate for all MongoDB deployments.
 Rapid Releases
 --------------
 
-Rapid Releases are made available approximately once each quarter
-that does not contain a Major Release, and generally mark the
-introduction of new features and improvements. Rapid Releases are
-designed for use with `MongoDB Atlas
+Rapid Releases are made available approximately once each quarter that
+does not contain a |lts| Release, and introduce new features and
+improvements. Rapid Releases are only supported within `MongoDB Atlas
 <https://www.mongodb.com/cloud/atlas?tck=docs_server>`_, and are not
-generally supported for use in an on-premise capacity. Rapid Releases
-are not available for use with `MongoDB Ops Manager
-<https://docs.opsmanager.mongodb.com/current/?tck=docs_server>`_, and
-are not supported for :ref:`arbiters <replica-set-arbiters>`. If
-arbiters are part of your MongoDB deployment, use the most recent
-Major Release instead.
+supported for on-premises deployments.
+
+Rapid Releases are not available for use with `MongoDB Ops Manager
+<https://docs.opsmanager.mongodb.com/current/?tck=docs_server>`_.
 
 *Example versions:*
 
@@ -58,19 +57,19 @@ Major Release instead.
 Patch Releases
 --------------
 
-Patch Releases are made available as needed to both
-Major Releases and Rapid Releases, and generally
-include bug fixes and backwards-compatible changes.
+Patch Releases are made available as needed to both |lts| Releases and
+Rapid Releases. Patch releases generally include bug fixes and minor
+improvements.
 
 *Example versions:*
 
-- ``5.0.1`` (a Major Release patch version)
+- ``5.0.1`` (a |lts| Release patch version)
 - ``5.2.1`` (a Rapid Release patch version)
 
 Release Candidate (RC) Releases
 -------------------------------
 
-In advance of new Major Releases or Rapid Releases, Release Candidates
+In advance of new |lts| Releases and Rapid Releases, Release Candidates
 are made available for early testing. A Release Candidate represents a
 version of the upcoming release that is stable enough to begin testing,
 but is not suitable for production deployment.