# UX Writing Skill

> Systematic UX writing for digital products — applies four quality standards (Purposeful, Concise, Conversational, Clear) to all interface copy. Covers microcopy patterns for buttons, error messages, empty states, form labels, notifications, tooltips, and onboarding. Includes accessibility writing guidelines, voice/tone framework, and before/after examples. v1.6.0.

- Skill: `podo/ux-writing-skill` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add podo/ux-writing-skill`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/podo/ux-writing-skill/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: podo (https://skillmd.com/u/podo)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/podo/ux-writing-skill

---


# ux-writing-skill

> Catalogue stub — full skill: [content-designer/ux-writing-skill](https://github.com/content-designer/ux-writing-skill)

## Decision tree

1. **Is the full skill already installed?**
   - Global: `grep -q "^das:" ~/.agents/skills/ux-writing-skill/SKILL.md 2>/dev/null && echo "pointer" || echo "installed"`
   - Project: `grep -q "^das:" .agents/skills/ux-writing-skill/SKILL.md 2>/dev/null && echo "pointer" || echo "installed"`
   - No `das:` block → full skill installed, invoke and proceed
   - `das:` block present → go to step 2

2. **Detect scope, then install:**

   ```bash
   [ -e ~/.agents/skills/ux-writing-skill ] && echo "global" || echo "project"
   ```

   **Global:**
   ```bash
   npx skills add content-designer/ux-writing-skill --skill ux-writing-skill -g -y
   ```

   **Project:**
   ```bash
   npx skills add content-designer/ux-writing-skill --skill ux-writing-skill -y
   ```
   > **Claude Code:** send either command as a chat message starting with `!` to run it without leaving the conversation.

## Invoke after install

- Skill name: `ux-writing-skill`
- Triggers: "UX writing", "microcopy", "error message copy", "empty state copy", "button label", "UI copy"

## What it does

Applies systematic UX writing standards to every piece of interface copy. Four quality dimensions: **Purposeful** (serves user goals), **Concise** (8–14 words for labels), **Conversational** (active voice, second person), **Clear** (no jargon). Covers the most common UI copy patterns:

- **Buttons & CTAs** — action-verb labels, primary/secondary/destructive framing
- **Error messages** — what happened, why, how to fix (never blame the user)
- **Empty states** — purpose, value prop, call to action
- **Form labels & placeholders** — distinction between label, hint, placeholder, validation
- **Notifications & toasts** — urgency calibration, dismissal copy
- **Onboarding** — progressive disclosure, setup copy, success moments
- **Accessibility** — screen reader-first phrasing, `aria-label` guidance, cognitive load

## When NOT to use

- Long-form product marketing copy — use `copywriting-skill`
- Removing AI writing patterns from existing text — use `humanize-text`
- Full content strategy / information architecture — use `design-with-claude` (`content-strategist`)