Error Message Formula
What happened + Why (if helpful) + What to do
Good Examples
- "File too large. Maximum size is 10MB. Compress the image or choose a smaller file."
- "That email is already registered. Try signing in instead."
- "Connection lost. Your changes are saved locally and will sync when you're back online."
Bad Examples
- "Error" — says nothing.
- "Invalid input" — which input? What's invalid?
- "Something went wrong. Please try again later." — when is later?
- "Error code 0x8004005" — meaningless to users.
Tone Rules
- Don't blame the user. "That password is too short" not "You entered an invalid password."
- Don't apologize excessively. "Couldn't load" not "We're so sorry, but unfortunately..."
- Be calm, not alarming. "Check your connection" not "CRITICAL NETWORK FAILURE."
- Match the brand voice, even in errors.