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Phase 3
UX Writing & Microcopy
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Words are design. UX writing crafts the text that guides users through products—from buttons and onboarding to errors and confirmations. This module clarifies the difference between UX writing and microcopy, shows how language drives clarity, accessibility, and trust, and shares practical patterns for clear, concise, human-centered copy.
What Is UX Writing?
UX writing is the discipline of designing with words so every message—titles, buttons, instructions, warnings—helps users know what to do, where to go, and why it matters. Unlike marketing copy, which persuades, UX writing primarily guides users through interactions.
Microcopy: Small Text, Big Impact
Microcopy is short, functional UI text—labels, placeholders, errors, empty-states, tooltips. Tiny choices here often decide whether someone completes a task or bounces.
Best Practices for UX Writing & Microcopy
Be clear and concise.
Guide with explicit actions.
Match tone to context and brand.
Prioritize accessibility (plain language, contrast, ARIA labels when needed).
Test with real users and iterate.
Bad
"Invalid password."
Good
"That password doesn’t match. Try again."
UX Writing vs. Microcopy
- UX Writing → The end-to-end narrative across flows: tone, structure, and guidance.
- Microcopy → The atomic pieces inside that system: labels, tooltips, helpers, and error messages.
Think of UX writing as the cake, and microcopy as the sprinkles.
Resources
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