📝 Arabic content style writing guide
Comprehensive guidelines for writing user experience and digital content in Arabic
This guide is a comprehensive reference for teams to develop professional Arabic content in apps and websites. It is used when writing any text the user interacts with.
Section One: Core Principles
1.1 Why do we need a style guide?
| Reason |
Description |
| Consistency |
The same voice and tone everywhere |
| Clarity |
Content everyone understands |
| Experience |
Moving the user from one point to another |
| Trust |
Content that removes doubt and increases certainty |
1.2 Voice and tone
Voice = brand personality (always constant)
Tone = changes according to the situation and context
The three principles of voice
| Principle |
Do |
Don't |
| Wisdom |
Positive and calm |
Negative or accusatory |
| Curiosity |
Ask and care |
Impose or command |
| Confidence |
Clear and direct |
Vague or ambiguous |
Four dimensions of tone
مرحة ←————————————→ جادة
|
|
رسمية ←————————————→ غير رسمية
|
|
محترمة ←————————————→ غير موقرة
|
|
حماسية ←————————————→ واقعية
1.3 Matching the emotional context
✅ Positive situations (encouragement, success, welcome)
| Do |
Don't |
| Be encouraging and positive |
Don't take credit for yourself |
| Express your interest |
Don't assume it's easy |
| Congratulate the user |
Don't be condescending |
Examples:
✅ تم إرسال اقتراحك بنجاح! شكراً لمشاركتك القيمة.
❌ تم بنجاح.
✅أحسنت! أضفت الكتاب إلى قائمتك المفضلة.
❌ تمت الإضافة.
⚪ Neutral situations (information, instructions)
| Do |
Don't |
| Express confidence |
Don't create doubt |
| Connect the action to the value |
Don't dictate to the user |
| Be direct |
Don't be overly curious |
Examples:
✅ أدخل بريدك الإلكتروني للمتابعة
❌ يرجى إدخال البريد الإلكتروني أولاً
✅ أضف الكتاب للمفضلة للحصول على اقتراحات أفضل
❌ يمكنك إضافة الكتاب للمفضلة إذا أردت
❌ Negative situations (errors, failure, cancellation)
| Do |
Don't |
| Be honest and direct |
Don't minimize the problem |
| Explain the next steps |
Don't use negative words |
| Use conversational language |
Don't use technical terms |
| Apologize clearly |
Don't use emojis |
Examples:
✅ عذراً، تعذر إرسال اقتراحك. يرجى المحاولة مرة أخرى.
❌ فشل في الإرسال.
✅ تأكد من صحة البريد الإلكتروني وأعد المحاولة
❌ البريد الإلكتروني غير صالح
Section Two: Effective Writing Methods
2.1 Main and Subheadings
Three goals:
- Identify the user's current location
- Understand the content organization
- Anticipate available actions
Rules:
- ✅ Concise - few words, big meaning
- ✅ Complete sentences
- ❌ No excessive punctuation
| True |
False |
| Next read |
Next read. |
| Your favorite books |
Favorites: |
| New request |
New request >>> |
2.2 Microcopy
The golden rule: Delete everything that can be deleted
| True |
False |
| Add book |
Add this book |
| Delete |
Delete this item |
| Save |
Save changes |
2.3 Sentences
Write the action before the result
| True |
False |
| Add the book to favorites |
It appears in favorites when added |
| Register now and start reading |
Start reading after registering |
Use direct verbs
| True |
False |
| We will refund the amount |
We will carry out the refund of the amount |
| We will notify you |
We will carry out the notification of you |
| The notification will be sent |
A notification will be sent |
Avoid nominalization language
| True |
False |
| Update your list to get suggestions |
Update your list and enjoy the suggestions |
| Register to get exclusive features |
Register and enjoy exclusive features |
Section Three: Interface Elements
3.1 Buttons
Action buttons (verb + noun)
| True |
False |
| Add a book |
Add |
| Search for a book |
Search |
| Send suggestion |
Send |
Confirmation buttons (verb + result)
| True |
False |
| Do you want to delete? Cancel / Delete |
Do you want to delete? Yes / No |
| Do you want to continue? Continue / Cancel |
Do you want to continue? Yes / No |
Toggle buttons (value + relevance)
| True |
False |
| Send a free gift to a friend |
Send a gift |
| Get a free copy |
Free download |
| Start a trial period |
Trial |
Special case: account cancellation
| True |
False |
| Not interested / Cancel account |
Cancel / Cancel account |
3.2 Links
Within sentences
| True |
False |
| Read more. |
Read more. |
| View the terms of service. |
View the terms of service. |
Outside sentences
| True |
False |
| More |
More.. |
| Don't have an account? |
Don't have an account |
3.3 Error messages
Three goals:
1. Clarify the problem (what happened) 2. Provide a solution (how to fix)
3. Turn the negative into a positive
Writing rules
| True |
False |
| The code should consist of 6 digits |
Invalid code |
| Sorry, it was not saved. Do you want to try? |
Save failed |
| Make sure you are connected to the internet and try again |
Network error |
3.4 Confirmation messages
Components:
- Title: a clear question
- Content: explain the consequences
- Buttons: a clear action
| True |
False |
| Do you want to discard the changes? |
Discard? |
| This action cannot be undone. |
The data will be permanently deleted. |
| Discard / Cancel |
Yes / No |
3.5 Success messages
Three goals:
- Confirm the action
- Show the next steps
- Give a positive feeling
Talk about the user, not the action
| True |
Error |
| Your suggestion has been sent! |
Sent successfully. |
| Welcome back! |
Logged in. |
Add value and meaning
| True |
False |
| Added. Now your friends can read it. |
The book has been added. |
| Your reading has been saved! It will appear on your profile. |
Saved. |
3.6 Empty States
Not a failure - but an opportunity!
| True |
False |
| Your books will appear here |
Sorry, no books found |
| Start by adding your first book |
No books yet |
| Read the first suggestion here |
No suggestions |
3.7 Placeholders
Questions (direct question)
ما اسم الكتاب؟
من هو المؤلف؟
Categories (guidance for selection)
تصفية حسب: المؤلف، النوع، التقييم
ترتيب حسب: الأحدث، الأكثر شعبية
Examples (simplifying understanding)
مثال: "ماذا حدث للمصريين"
مثال: "تل SC-101"
3.8 Help Messages
Rule: The less, the better
| True |
False |
| 8-20 characters |
Password must be between 8 and 20 characters |
| email@example.com |
Enter your correct email address |
Section Four: Style and Mechanics
4.1 Abbreviations
| True |
False |
| Question |
س |
| Page |
ص |
| Image |
ص |
4.2 Active Voice vs Passive Voice
| True |
False |
| I added the book to the list |
The book was added to the list |
| I sent the message |
The message was sent |
Politely
| True |
False |
| Email is incorrect |
The email you entered is wrong |
| Number is unknown |
The number you entered is incorrect |
4.3 Conversational Writing
| True |
False |
| Select this book |
Select a book |
| Save your changes |
Save changes |
| Share your opinion with us |
Share your opinion |
4.4 Numbers
| True |
False |
| You have 3 books |
You have three books |
| 20% discount |
20% discount |
| two days ago |
two days ago |
English numerals (comma)
1,000
144
1,200,000
4.5 Dates
الخميس، أبريل ١٦
١٦ أبريل
الأمس، اليوم، غداً
الأسبوع الحالي، الأسبوع القادم
4.6 Time
| True |
False |
| 5 PM |
5 م |
| 8:30 AM |
8:30 ص |
| 06:30–18:00 |
6:30 - 6:00 |
4.7 Money
1000 جنيه مصري
250 ريال سعودي
4.8 Punctuation marks
- : The colon - to present a list
- ، The comma - to separate two related sentences
- – The en dash - for a range (10–20)
- — The em dash - to separate sentences (this — and it)
- ... The ellipsis - to omit a part
Section Five: Accessibility
5.1 Accessibility principles
- Clarity: a language everyone understands
- Conciseness: the shorter the better
- Sequence: from most to least important
- Consistency: the same terminology
5.2 Writing for people with disabilities
| We use |
We do not use |
| People of determination |
The disabled |
| People with disabilities |
Normal people |
| Living with |
Affected by |
| Needs support |
Unable |
5.3 Alternative text for images
✅ صورة: غلاف كتاب "ملك适用的"
❌ صورة: image.jpg
Section Six: Word lists
6.1 Preferred terminology
| Instead of |
Use |
| Run |
Sequence / Run |
| Accept |
OK |
| Cancel |
Close / Exit |
| Back |
Return / Previous |
| Select |
Choose |
| Manage |
Edit |
| Convert |
Toggle |
| See |
View |
| Must |
Needs / You must |
| Download |
Export / Download |
| Refer |
Share |
6.2 Button verbs
| Action |
The Arabic text |
| Add |
Add, Create, New |
| Delete |
Delete, Remove |
| Edit |
Edit, Modify |
| Save |
Save, Done |
| Submit |
Send, Dispatch |
| Register |
Register, log in |
| Share |
Share, send |
Section Seven: Practical Examples
7.1 Login Form
مرحباً بعودتك
البريد الإلكتروني
كلمة المرور
تسجيل الدخول
نسيت كلمة المرور؟
ليس لديك حساب؟ سجل الآن
7.2 Add Product Form
اسم المنتج
الوصف (اختياري)
السعر
أضف للمنتجات
7.3 Welcome Message
مرحباً بك في [اسم التطبيق]! 🎉
نحن سعيدون بانضمامك.
استكشف الميزات الجديدة:
• اكتشف كتباً جديدة
• أنشئ قائمتك المفضلة
• شارك اقتراحاتك
ابدأ الآن →
7.4 Payment Error Message
عذراً، تعذر معالجة دفعتك.
السبب: الرفض من البنك
ماذا يمكنك fazer:
• تحقق من بيانات البطاقة
• جرب طريقة دفع أخرى
• تواصل معibank
أعد المحاولة →
7.5 Subscription Success Message
✅ تم الاشتراك بنجاح!
شكراً لانضمامك.
ماذا الآن:
• استكشف الخطط المتاحة
• أضف طريقة الدفع
• راجع الفواتير
العودة للرئيسية →
Section Eight: Support Files
Additional References
For more detailed information, refer to the following files in the same folder:
- reference.md - Comprehensive glossary reference
- examples.md - Expanded applied examples
- [checklist.md](checklist.md] - Review checklist
- [glossary.md](glossary.md] - Glossary of terms
Source and Reference
Source: https://github.com/UX-Writing/Content-Style-Guide-in-Arabic
License: MIT
Notes for Use
- Direct call: Type
/copywriter followed by the text to be reviewed
- Automatic call: Claude will automatically load this guide when writing Arabic content
- Specific focus: A specific domain can be specified, such as
/copywriter review error messages
Review tips:
- Always start by determining the context (positive/negative/neutral)
- Check the use of correct verbs
- Ensure conciseness
- Review punctuation
- Check terminology consistency
Last updated: 2026-03-08
Version: 1.0.0
