Article · ~9 min read

UI Copy: UX Guidelines for Command Names and Keyboard Shortcuts

Anna Kaley · Nielsen Norman Group Free Intermediate

Concrete rules for writing the words on your buttons and menus so nobody has to decode them. It covers using a verb plus a noun (Delete Folder, not just Delete) so a label makes sense on its own. Small change, big drop in second guessing.

  • Add a noun after the verb so a label makes sense out of context.
  • Keep command names consistent across the whole product.
  • Write for the person's task, not the system's internal wording.
Open on nngroup.com ↗

It answers 2 questions

  1. I keep hearing "don't make me think" but what does that actually mean when I'm designing a screen?
  2. How do I write clear button and error messages so users know exactly what to do next?

Read with it

  1. Design tactics written specifically for developers and non-designers who need to ship good-looking UI without a design... refactoringui.com Book · ~250 pages Refactoring UI Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger
  2. The most accessible, practical intro to usability ever written, you can read it in a weekend and immediately fix your product.... sensible.com Book · ~200 pages Don't Make Me Think, Revisited Steve Krug
  3. The single most-cited usability framework in the field, from the definitive UX research authority. A checklist you can hold... Nielsen Norman Group Article · ~15 min read 10 Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design Jakob Nielsen
  4. The foundational text on human-centered design that every product person should read once. It rewires how you see every... jnd.org / Basic Books Book · ~350 pages The Design of Everyday Things Don Norman
  5. A crisp, visual reference of the psychology principles behind good UX, perfect for a founder who wants the 'why' without a... lawsofux.com Article · reference site Laws of UX Jon Yablonski
  6. This is the one principle that answers your worry head on: users spend most of their time on other apps, so they expect yours... Laws of UX Essay · 5 min read Jakob's Law Jon Yablonski (principle by Jakob Nielsen)
eChai Partner Brands The partnership →