Microcopy

Microcopy

Microcopy Principles

1. Be specific. "Save Project" not "Submit."
2. Use verbs for actions. Buttons are actions, not descriptions.
3. Front-load key words. "Delete 3 files" not "Are you sure you want to delete 3 files?"
4. 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.