Microcopy Principles
- Be specific. "Save Project" not "Submit."
- Use verbs for actions. Buttons are actions, not descriptions.
- Front-load key words. "Delete 3 files" not "Are you sure you want to delete 3 files?"
- Match user's mental model. "Trash" not "Soft Delete."
Patterns
Buttons
- Primary: specific verb + object. "Create Account," "Send Invoice."
- Secondary: shorter. "Cancel," "Skip."
- Destructive: clear consequence. "Delete Project" not "Remove."
Error Messages
Formula: What happened + Why + What to do.
- "Your password must be at least 8 characters."
- NOT: "Invalid input."
- NOT: "Error 422: Validation failed."
Empty States
- "No messages yet" + actionable CTA.
- NOT: "There are currently no items to display."
Confirmations
- "Project deleted." (past tense, brief).
- "Saved." (one word if obvious).
- NOT: "Your changes have been successfully saved!"
Placeholders
- Example data: "jane@example.com" not "Enter your email."
- Disappears on focus, so never rely on it for instructions.