| name | ux-writing |
| description | Write or review UI copy — buttons, errors, empty states, microcopy, notifications, labels — using the voice & tone system (clear, concise, useful, human, honest) with the what→why→how error formula and inclusive-language rules. Use when the user needs interface copy, error messages, empty-state text, or a copy review. |
Skill: UX Writing
Produce or critique interface copy in the project's voice.
Steps
- Read
content/voice-tone.md (voice principles, tone spectrum, formulas, microcopy patterns, inclusive language, pre-ship checklist).
- Match tone to the user's emotional state (onboarding/success/routine/error/destructive). Higher stress → plainer language.
- Apply the formulas:
- Buttons: frontload the verb, name the outcome.
- Confirmation dialogs: the confirm button restates the action and object — "Delete account", not "Delete"/"OK"/"Yes"/"Confirm". The title asks ("Delete account?"), the button answers in matching words. Cancel stays "Cancel". For irreversible/high-stakes actions, require a type-to-confirm step (WCAG 3.3.4/3.3.6).
- Errors: what happened → why → how to fix (no dead ends, no codes/stack traces).
- Empty states: value → first action.
- Enforce mechanics: sentence case, no ALL CAPS, numerals, no blame on the user, labels (not placeholders), no directional/color-only instructions.
- Run the 10-item pre-ship copy checklist.
Output
Final copy (or a redline review) that reads naturally aloud and passes the checklist. Keep within any character limits for tight UI.
Verification (mandatory before declaring done)
Run every line through the 10-item pre-ship checklist in content/voice-tone.md — do not skip it:
- Reads naturally aloud; frontloaded verb on actions; no jargon/blame/dead-ends.
- Errors follow what→why→how; empty states give value→action; no bare "No data"/"Error".
- Mechanics: sentence case, numerals, labels (not placeholders), no color/direction-only cues, inclusive language.
- Within character limits; translatable (no concatenation — see
accessibility/i18n-rtl.md).
