Powerful Writing Tips for UX Designers

With the development of digital technologies and the progress of Internet services and offers now we can find pretty much everything at the tips of our fingers. For instance, you can take advantage of the services provided by TopEssayWriting, get tips on how to develop a better social media marketing program, and obtain advice on the best practices in the digital field. Still, all the progress that we’ve achieved requires new practices to be put into use. One example of such is UX writing.

What is UX Writing?

UX writing is the process of creating a copy that will be used in a user interface. Its purpose is to guide the users through the product. Through it the customers and users interact with the service or the product you are creating. Here the goal is to provide a means of communicating between the digital product and the customer.

A UX writing copy is also termed microcopy. The name shows that those are the small components that hint the users towards what they need. For instance, that includes the buttons, the menu copy, the security notes, any error messages, terms, conditions, instructions, etc.

A bad-written copy can lead to navigation troubles and can even ruin the user interface. This part of the digital product impacts the user experience. From the perspective of the user, UX writing copy makes for a swift navigation through the product.

What Makes for Good UX Writing?

People may believe that the UX copy is done easily and rapidly. After all, aren't they simply small text pieces? Well, no. Sometimes even a single button may require more effort than a whole page of text.

The microcopy can be a word long or contain numerous sentences. They are all dedicated to a particular function. Here every word counts. A single word should provide orientation to the users. But it must also encourage them to remain active users. The UX copy should have clear and concise text. It has to be simple so that it allows for an intuitive interaction with the product. It must be based on the target audience as well as on the particular context. But UX copy is also a part of the design, thus, its effectiveness depends on the good look and the compatibility with the composition of the general design.

Avoid Long Text

When users research a product, they don’t delve into the user interface fully. Rather, they immerse themselves in the work of the product. They don’t read the text completely. Rather, they quickly scan the text. So, keep the text in short scannable blocks. Divide the long blocks into shorter paragraphs or, even better, sentences. The most important details should be at the front.

Keep the Text Concise

No, don’t limit it. Rather, be efficient. Keep the meaning intact but use just a few words. Make sure that each of the words serves a purpose, rather than being there for a filler. As Mark Twain has said, you need to cut out the wrong words. Any fillers and unnecessary words have to be omitted.

Don’t Use Double Negatives

If you use such, then you are increasing the cognitive load on the users. Rather than simply comprehending what you mean, the users will need to spend even more time on decoding what your message is. Also, this goes against the best writing practices. Using double negatives brings different connotations and confusion.

Make it Consistent

If you are inconsistent, then the user will be confused. For instance, this can occur if you replace a word with its synonym in a different part of the text. An example is when you replace “Booking” with “Scheduling” or something similar. A related note is not to combine different address forms. Refer to the user only in one address form. Don’t mix first person and second person in the same phrase. For example, don’t go with “Check your messages in My Messages.” Rather, write, “Check your messages in Your Messages.”

Start With an Objective

Don’t begin with the action verb. Rather, start with the objective. Follow that advice when one sentence includes an objective’s description, as well as what action is needed to achieve that object. Going with the action verb first brings confusion and promotes misunderstanding. So, begin with an objective to make the text more readable.

Stay Clear from Jargon

A UX writing copy should be clear and simple. That is a significant characteristic that you should keep in mind. Replace the technical terms with easier-to-understand words. Use understandable familiar phrases and words. Especially when you are dealing with error messages. The technical jargon will confuse the user and they will have a hard time to figure out what is wrong.

Active Voice

Passive voice makes reading hard and boring. Rather, stick with an active voice to keep the text interesting and readable. For example, take "The man was abandoned by her" versus "She left him". The second reads much more freely and easily. Or, “the button should be clicked” sounds worse and is harder to read than simply “click the button”.

Don’t Stack All the Details in the Front

Additional info can sometimes come in handy. It can actually help the readers understand better what you are offering. But there are too many instances when those details are stacked up front. If the information comes too much, then it can overwhelm the users. So, when giving data, reveal the details only as needed. Use what is known as progressive disclosure. This is even a better strategy for mobile UX where there is a limited space on the screen.

Appropriate Identification of Interactive Elements

Think of yourself as the user. Would you like it if you get unpleasantly surprised? For instance, how would you feel if you expect something but get a completely different thing? Well, it won’t be the best thing that’s happened. When writing UX keep in mind that the users should be able to quickly tell what a particular thing does. Interactive elements should be labeled clearly and have to be comprehensible.

Watch Out with the Humor

Many writers consider humor to be a good thing. But as with every other thing in design, this needs to be done in moderation and with consideration. People will probably read the interface numerous times. And yes, in the beginning the humorous part may look clever, but with time it can get irritating. This is especially true for error messages. Also, when incorporating humor, remember that what looks funny in one culture doesn’t sound the same in other cultures.

Don’t Use Dates

For instance, you aren’t going to use a date when you are talking about two days ago if you were speaking. Or the day before the present one… No, you would say ‘yesterday’. The same thing goes for design. Don’t give a date. Rather, use ‘today’, ‘tomorrow’, and ‘yesterday’. This will remove the necessity to use a calendar when one wants to see what is the time you are talking about. Still, when doing so, remember that you need to also include the current locale, otherwise, the terms can quickly get inaccurate or confusing.

Include Graphics

We are visual creatures. We can quickly interpret visual information. And sometimes it is impossible to put something in words. In such cases imagery may offer us support. This will give the text a better comprehension. Also, remember “a picture is worth a thousand words”. By using pictures you give the users more information and a better understanding.

Prioritize

When people are reading something on the screen, their eyes follow an F shape. They will read the first line, then the second one, but afterwards they will skip down the page, skimming over the first or the second word of the sentence. Thus, keep the text concise and put the important concepts first. That way when the users read the text, they will start with the important words.

Easily Translatable

The UX copy should be internationalized. It should not be stopped by cultural, geographical, or linguistic boundaries. What you have written should be easy to understand by people, no matter what their languages and cultures are. Thus, use direct and simple language for easy translation.

Get Creative

The microcopies may be with short informative texts, but this shouldn’t lead to boring messages. Attempt to add some creativity. Break tension in the error messages and encourage people to remain using the product or the service. Don’t go too far with creativity, though. Try to find the balance.

Test in on Different Users

Testing different users will never hurt. If there aren’t any target users you can get an opinion from, then you can give your coworkers or friends a penny for their thoughts. By doing so, you are making sure that users from all backgrounds and social spheres have a good time with your design. Testing on different users allows you to catch mistakes, misconceptions, and wrongly used elements.

Think as a User

If you wish your copy to be useful, you need to consider what will the user see and understand when they read it. You should be mindful of where the user will need help. If you research user opinions, you will be able to see what your target audience needs and what hints will they require. Think as a user, rather than just a designer and writer. If you put yourself in the customer’s shoes, you can see where they may be confused and need more information or guidance.

Don’t Worry about Ending on Prepositions

There is a rule in English that says you should not end a sentence with a preposition. Well, that isn’t exactly true. People who say so are basing this ‘rule’ on Latin where it is true. Still, that doesn’t hold any ground in English. When you are doing all you can not to end sentences on prepositions, you can end with some awful sentences. So, don’t go for it, but stick to the easy-flow-of-speech.

Clear Listing

Don’t do lists in a sentence order. Rather, use, well… lists. Listing something in a sentence makes it hard to see what is necessary in a quick manner. That is especially true for multi-sentence paragraphs. Rather, make an ordered list so that the user can quickly get the needed information.

Start with the Benefit

People will be more inclined to read and stick to the text if they can see what they would get in return. They will focus more on the beginning and the end of the sentence. But the most of their attention will be placed on the beginning. So, start with what they will get out of something, so that they can see the benefit and be more inclined to do the action.

Conclusion

Well, those are the things we wanted to point out the most. We tried to give you the most useful tips we know on UX writing for designers. We attempted to sort out the numerous information that is available and synthesize it in a comprehensible manner. That is exactly what you should be trying to do in your job – synthesize what is necessary and make it easily understandable.

There are multiple parts in the UX copy that need to be considered. Yes, it may be short, it may not be spread on numerous pages, but it still requires talent and dedication. If you give your best in trying to create a thoughtful copy, then you can grasp the attention of the audience. If you manage to do so, then you will be a successful UX writer.

Design incorporates many aspects. Each of them is important and needs to be thoughtfully considered if you wish to engage your audience in the product you are presenting. UX writing is part of that process. It needs to be fully studied and researched, so that you will be able to get the best results. We hope we managed to help you with that.