Article · ~10 min read

Writing

Apple · Apple Human Interface Guidelines Free Beginner

Apple's writing foundation is short, opinionated, and free, and it states the button rule plainly: almost always use a verb, and never explain what a button does if the label is clear. It also covers alert wording so your confirmations do not confuse people. A quick primary source to align a whole team on.

  • Label buttons and links with a verb for the action
  • If the label is clear, do not add text explaining it
  • Write short, complete sentences in plain language

The question it answers

  1. How do I write clear button and error messages so users know exactly what to do next?

Read with it

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  2. Nielsen Norman Group is the closest thing to a standard reference in usability, and this piece is a clean, specific checklist... Nielsen Norman Group Article Error-Message Guidelines Tim Neusesser and Evan Sunwall (Nielsen Norman Group)
  3. This is the reference everyone quietly copies when they first try to write down their brand voice, and it is public, free, and... Mailchimp Content Style Guide Article Voice and Tone, Mailchimp Content Style Guide Mailchimp
  4. If you are a founder or designer writing your own product copy without a UX writer on the team, this is the most practical... Smashing Magazine Article · About a 20 minute read How To Improve Your Microcopy: UX Writing Tips For Non-UX Writers Irina Silyanova
  5. 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... Nielsen Norman Group Article · ~9 min read UI Copy: UX Guidelines for Command Names and Keyboard Shortcuts Anna Kaley
  6. This is the single most practical book written entirely about the tiny words in your product (buttons, error messages, empty... microcopybook.com (Nemala) Book · ~350 pages Microcopy: The Complete Guide Kinneret Yifrah
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