The inconspicuous text that determines whether someone gets through your form.
UX writing is writing the functional text in an interface: buttons, labels, error messages, subheadings and blank screens. The goal is not to convince but to guide. With forms and applications, this text often determines whether someone succeeds than the design.
IN COMMON LANGUAGE
What it's about
'Send' means nothing. 'Request a consultation' says what happens. That difference costs nothing and demonstrably results in more completed forms.
Error messages are the clearest example. 'Invalid Input' is anyone's guess; 'Enter an email address with an @' tells you what to do.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it carries more weight in applications
On a website you read a page once. With an application that someone uses every day, any ambiguity adds up to irritation.
An empty initial state is the most missed opportunity: the screen that someone sees before there is any data is exactly the moment to explain what they have to do.
- Buttons say what happens — don't 'send'.
- Error messages show the way — not 'invalid input'.
- Plain language labels — no field names from the database.
- Utilize empty screens — explain what the next step is.
- Consistent word usage — the same thing is called the same everywhere.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
More about UX writing
Is this the same as copywriting?
No. Copywriting convinces, UX writing guides. A sales phrase in an error message is misplaced; there the reader just wants to know what to do.
Who does this on a project?
We write the interface text for applications, because it is too intertwined with construction to invest separately. On websites it comes together with the rest of the texts.
Does it really achieve anything?
Certainly with forms: clear labels and buttons reduce the dropout rate. It is also one of the few improvements that costs nothing except attention.
CONTINUE READING
Of course, continue reading about this subject.
Screens that are by itself explain?
We help write the interface text, because it determines whether people succeed.