UX writing has grown more vital as digital products become more complex and prominent in people’s lives. With so many apps, websites, and devices competing for attention, clear communication can make or break a product’s adoption and success. Users have little patience for unclear language or confusing flows. Strong UX writing is essential for positive user experiences.
As technology continues evolving rapidly, UX writers help ensure that products speak to users in a natural, friendly voice. Their work bridges the gap between human and machine. Rather than afterthoughts, words must be crafted as carefully as the visual design. A well written UX content and an intuitive UI design can make the overall product stand out.
Clarity
Clarity is essential in UX writing. Unclear writing leads to confusion, misinterpretation, and frustration for users. The fundamental goal of UX writing is to communicate information and instructions clearly and effectively.
Examples of unclear UX writing:
- “Our new product offers an innovative paradigm for leveraging synergies.” – Using complex, formal language and buzzwords.
- “To begin, initiate the process by selecting the choice.” – Using unnecessarily complex and wordy phrasing.
Examples of clear UX writing:
- “Tap the Play button to start the video.” – Uses simple, familiar language.
- “Create an account to save your progress.” – Avoids extra words and clearly states the action and benefit.
- “Your payment failed. Please update your payment information and try again.” – Clear, concise, and actionable.
The best UX writing uses simple words and phrasing to communicate the essential information users need. It avoids ambiguous, vague or complex language that could create confusion. Strive for clarity above all else in UX writing.
Concision
Concise writing is critical for good user experience. When writing interface copy, every word counts. You want to communicate ideas and instructions clearly without wasting the user’s time.
Wordy, verbose copy quickly loses users. They won’t read long blocks of text on an interface. Instead, they will skim and potentially miss key information.
For example:
Wordy:
In order to proceed with creating your account on our website, it is mandatory and required that you provide your first and last name, choose a password that has at least 8 characters including one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number, and enter your email address that you have access to.
Concise:
Create an account:
- Enter your first and last name
- Create a password with at least 8 characters, one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number
- Provide your email address
The concise version delivers the same information in a scannable and easy-to-understand format. It highlights the key steps for the user without unnecessary words that dilute the meaning.
- Some tips for writing concisely:
- Avoid filler words like “really”, “very”, “in order to”, etc.
- Don’t repeat information that is conveyed elsewhere.
- Use bulleted lists for instructions.
- Favor short, simple sentences.
- Remove extra adjectives and adverbs.
- Use active voice.
Concise writing requires more work to pare down unnecessary words, but the improved user experience is worth the effort. Users can quickly scan and comprehend concise copy.
Voice and Tone
Voice and tone are two important elements of UX writing. While they are related, there are some key differences between them:
Voice refers to the personality of the content. It’s the style of writing that makes the text sound uniquely like it’s coming from a particular brand or publication. Voice helps establish the writer’s perspective and point of view. Some examples of brand voice include:
- Playful and conversational (Mailchimp)
- Authoritative and formal (Harvard University)
- Friendly and welcoming (Airbnb)
Tone is the attitude conveyed in the writing. It’s the emotion that comes through in the words. Tone aligns with the situation at hand and the goals of the content. Some examples of tone include:
- Urgent and serious (safety warnings)
- Casual and informal (internal communications)
- Inspiring and motivational (mission statements)
Conclusion
When crafting UX writing, it’s important to intentionally choose an appropriate voice that fits your brand. But tone can and should shift as needed, based on the user’s context.