the art of writing promotional text to make an emotional impression on the reader, usually to encourage a purchase. Don't confuse with [tag:copyright] or [tag:copy-editing].
14
votes
5answers
708 views
Is user experience a job position?
What I meant by my question was is user experience a stand alone job position, or is it a technical or artistic position that uses some principles of user experience design?
The reason I ask is ...
7
votes
3answers
381 views
Help or support?
I'm interested in the difference between using the words help or support when used in the context of customer help/support on a website or application.
Which would you use and why? As always any ...
14
votes
8answers
2k views
How to tell the user his login credentials are incorrect?
When a user has entered incorrect details into a login form, is it better to tell them:
The username or password you have entered is invalid.
or
The user name you have entered is invalid (for ...
1
vote
3answers
477 views
Enter your email below and we will contact you
My client wants a page in which the following text appears:
"Enter your email below and We will contact you"
It's then followed by a textfield (to write the email address) and a button to submit ...
0
votes
3answers
214 views
Icon for “title” and “subtitle” [closed]
I am creating a template for TV programme details. For each programme, I have a title and a subtitle. Instead of writing "Title" and "Subtitle" in full, I was thinking of using an icon.
What icon ...
3
votes
4answers
308 views
“Edit” or “Change”?
In the interests of speaking more like a human, I'm working through some of the terms used in an application. One of the terms is "edit".
It strikes me that "change" is a much more human way of ...
4
votes
2answers
214 views
“File” for name of drop-down menu
In Windows mostly, a lot (most?) applications have a "File" drop-down menu, with things like "Exit", "Import/export settings", "Preferences", ...
Is "File" a blindly accepted standard/default? ...
4
votes
1answer
131 views
How should Ad splash pages be handled for those with ads disabled?
I see it all too often; I click a link to an article on the web and I get this:
It's not (as) readily apparent it's an ad screen, at first I thought it was the classic "white screen" of a page that ...
7
votes
3answers
163 views
Representing different plans without offending users?
My users can be part of multiple organisations, which may or may not have a paid account.
When we discussed lately how we should make paid accounts stand out in a list, concerns were raised by senior ...
11
votes
10answers
499 views
Best description for “tags”
Although the concept of tags has become commonplace on the internet in the last few years, there are still many people that don't know what they are or what the point of them is.
You want to make ...
3
votes
5answers
183 views
How common is the phrase “context sensitive” outside of the computer science realm?
Upon the completion of developing a context sensitive help system for a new product, we have added a help button similar to this one (in addition to F1):
The current tool tip text on this is ...
8
votes
1answer
208 views
How much text markup is good, before it becomes bad?
In 1997 Jakob Nielsen told us about how users read on the web. (Actually in a typically headline grabbing way, he says they don't and then tells us how they do!)
Nielsen is a big proponent of using ...
5
votes
5answers
212 views
Is “<Object name>: <quantity>” notation acceptable in most popular localization?
This question was originally asked in the linguistics SE (which is not a good place to ask this kinds of thing).
Full question follows
I follow the software localization guideline, that states ...
1
vote
2answers
283 views
When to explain email verification process to the user?
We designed a new "Edit personal details" form in our system that allows the user to change his e-mail.
Changing an e-mail sends a verification mail to the user's mailbox, and only after verification ...
5
votes
1answer
205 views
How can I improve my copywriting skills?
I recognise the importance of good copy, but this is an area I often struggle with when working on my prototypes. I tend not to have to write large blocks of copy that often, the majority of my work ...
5
votes
3answers
226 views
Should field labels be nouns or verbs?
On a web form should field labels be nouns or verbs? This issue arose from two fields on an account request form that currently read:
Temporary Password
Re-Enter Temporary Password
There is debate ...
2
votes
4answers
71 views
Text for offering a free service and user engagement
Which is the better text to use in an image banner for offering a free medical examination service on a website:
"Contact us for a free examination"
OR
"Free examination, contact us for more ...
11
votes
3answers
687 views
How can the classic footer elements be integrated into an infinite scrolling layout?
Infinite Scrolling is a fairly new and effective way to display practically infinite amounts of data in a user's window, but one page element simply does not suit itself to this method; the footer. A ...
112
votes
12answers
6k views
Why shouldn't we use words such as 'here' and 'this' in textlinks?
Over the years of surfing on the web I have found numerous examples of people saying that you shouldn't use the word "here" in a textlink etc. Personally I like the idea of using the word, because it ...
7
votes
5answers
466 views
How to say that an online demo is interactive in 2-3 words?
Basically, they can play around with the app, to get a feel for it in a advance. The target audience is business owners who may or may not (likely not) be technologically inclined.
Demo implies that ...
7
votes
4answers
246 views
nice way to display a text message for two dates (range)
I have two arbitrary dates.
I was wondering if somebody can suggest the rules to create a text message which tells in a very effective way what the two dates are.
Let's assume that my solution is ...
27
votes
4answers
1k views
You, Me, or Joe Soap
When listing content in an application (think of a list of documents) we show the name of the document and the name of the author.
What should be shown for the author's name when the person reading ...
8
votes
3answers
263 views
Using “user” in a URL structure
This question follows on from this question: Better term for “user”.
If it's bad UX to call people using your product "user" then isn't it also bad UX to structure your URL's as ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
When to use “join,” “register,” or “sign up”?
For a user, when is it better to be asked to do the following:
"Sign In" vs. "Log in"
"Join" vs. "Register" vs. "Sign Up"
"Sign Out" vs. "Log out"
Different websites seem to use them differently, ...
16
votes
6answers
1k views
What is the right success message?
My English is not very good. I just wanna ask, what would be the right success message? In my case, when the the user deleted a record, I'm thinking of what to display with these options:
Record has ...
2
votes
4answers
149 views
Is default text needed for simple forms?
Does having default text on simple forms improve usability or simply clutter the interface?
I have a sign in form that is very simple, and visually I think it would be better without the default ...
10
votes
4answers
455 views
Should an interface ever say “thank you”?
I just read an answer to another question, in which Roger Attrill wrote:
You might not need to say Thank you if this is a very frequent action
or if your user's won't appreciate the nicety - ...
13
votes
2answers
699 views
Recommendations for good resources on writing good error messages
Writing good error messages which help users understand how to use the system is difficult. Often we get bug reports stating "Error message x is confusing" which usually sparks a long debate in the ...
6
votes
5answers
293 views
Alternative wording to 'upgrade from free trial to a paying plan'?
Looking for an alternative to 'upgrade'. The problem is that in our web-app ui and communication, we are currently using two different versions of upgrade:
the common upgrade/downgrade of the ...
2
votes
4answers
197 views
How to describe three different levels of sharing?
A person has some content that they've created, and they want to share it. The application allows one of 3 states for content.
Not shared - Not shared with anyone. Open sharing - shared with ...
54
votes
23answers
4k views
Better term for “user” [closed]
I often have to explain some aspect of an application, and often need to refer to users. I really don't like the term as it is not something with a good connotation (e.g. drug users) to the ...
33
votes
6answers
1k views
Should an interface ever say “please”?
Often I'll see a website, especially when registering or filling out a form that says something like "Please only use letters and numbers in this field" or "Please try again."
Please is a pleasantry ...
1
vote
5answers
98 views
What could be a single term (for use in a website) to refer to a community that encompasses students groups, academic institutes & recruiters?
I need a simple term that I could use in website's main navigation bar to refer to community encompassing academic groups, academic institutes & recruiters.
The target page is supposed to contain ...
7
votes
2answers
134 views
How do I test the effectiveness of copy earlier in the project?
Me and the UX team at our company are looking for a best practice on testing written copy. We make sketches using Balsamiq, we prototype it, test it, iterate it and then test it using Dreamweaver.
We ...
0
votes
5answers
177 views
Single replacement for: “Upload a document” and “Upload a Video”
I need a single replacement, to place in GUI, that categorises both "document" and "video". I need to place in my website interface to replace:
"Upload a document"...
and
"Upload a ...
207
votes
12answers
36k views
Should I use Yes/No or Ok/Cancel on my message box?
Semantically, the Yes/No buttons are roughly equivalent to the Ok/Cancel buttons, but in general what would you recommend to use? Should I always use Yes/No or always use Ok/Cancel? Or does it depend ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
How to convey the message of 'organising the cloud' to users?
https://datkey.com is a service we are launching in the near future and I got great input from my prior request so hope a new page connects with users better.
Any tips on how to convey to users the ...
9
votes
2answers
268 views
Formatting relative dates and times
First, when I talk about relative times (or would dates be more accurate?), I mean these 4 minutes ago, 1 hour ago, etc.
When should they be used? With what degree of precision? Shouldn't it be the ...
0
votes
0answers
58 views
Repository of Common Refrences [closed]
I am not sure here is the appropriate place to ask this question or not. But I am writing my MS thesis and so it should has many references to other resources (to comply Copyright). But my problem is ...
5
votes
4answers
208 views
How necessary is it to point out your call to action so obviously on a simple site?
I am trying to figure out, especially for returning users, the value of pointing out a way to add input to a site. Facebook and Google+ both have placeholder text and placement of the input for status ...
4
votes
6answers
281 views
What phrase would you use instead of “Likes” for an airline related forum?
Implementing a socially driven forum for a major Airline (similar to stackexchange I guess) and trying to come up with a different name for the "Likes" functionality which is essentially like the ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Difference between 'modify' and 'edit' buttons
Is there a difference between the words 'modify' and 'edit'? I am creating a form that will allow users to make changes to their order - what should the call to action button name be - 'edit your ...
2
votes
3answers
212 views
[sign up] vs. [sign me up], what's the best way to name buttons?
I'm a bit confused as to what the best way to naming buttons is. And if it needs to be consistent with the instructions (voice of one person), for instance:
Example A (one person): Are you new to the ...
10
votes
11answers
2k views
Creative alternatives for word 'Home' on a web application
What could be creative alternatives for word 'Home' on a social network applications that implies as a default space/ a living space or a place where all the updates gather?
6
votes
7answers
495 views
What could be an alternative for “Share this post with my network!” in a social application?
What could be an alternative word implying Share this post to my network! for use in a social application ?
0
votes
3answers
61 views
Advice on phrase to best communicate 'data snapshot' period to non-technical users
I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how to best communicate to a non-technical user the concept of a 'data snapshot'. A bit of background on what I'm trying to do:
Our analytics application ...
6
votes
4answers
637 views
What will be the Best notifications and error messages?
As a UI architect, I am always wondering about the best format to display errors and notifications to users.
Which of the following examples is the best format?
Name is required
Name cannot be ...
2
votes
4answers
814 views
And vs “&” in web text, which is better? [closed]
I see a lot of web text that use "&" to mean "and" and I think it's terrible, not readable, nor friendly, can anyway confirm or challenge that? any real facts to put it in perspective?
Same goes ...
9
votes
5answers
208 views
Should we prioritize use or linguistic?
I've been working on a project, and I found an interesting dilemma.
The application I'm working on has this filter, let's say something like this:
By default, none of the "options" are selected, ...
9
votes
7answers
450 views
Simplified facts or casual talk, which makes a better UX?
Which makes for a better User Experience: using copy that states the facts as simply as possible, or copy that speaks in casual language. (Context: a Web App )
Here are 3 examples as the answer may ...
