Use the following rules to keep your text understandable and consistent:

Be brief.

Don't give the user a bunch of text to read; it'll confuse users and many will skip over it anyway. Instead, provide the user with short and concise text.

• Bad: It doesn't look like you have any contacts in Dexter. You can use Dexter to organize your contacts, add more, and edit ones you already have. To get started, click on the "Add" button, then follow the prompts. Once you're done, your contacts will be displayed here.
• Better: Get Some Friends. Dexter can't seem to find your contacts. [Buttons to import or create contacts]

Think simple.

Assume the user is intelligent, but not technical. Avoid long, uncommon words and focus on using common, simple verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Never use technical jargon.

• Bad: 37 audio format files have been successfully imported into the songs database.
• Better: Successfully added 37 songs.

Get to the bottom line first.

Put the most important information at the beginning of your text. If the user stops reading, they'll still have what they need in mind.

• Bad: Your network connection might be down because Lingo could not find any definitions. Check it and try again.
• Better: No definition found. Check your network connection and try again.

Don't repeat yourself.

Don't repeat yourself. Don't repeat yourself. Don't repeat yourself. It's annoying and wastes space. Instead, find ways to use information more effectively the first time.

• Bad: Your email address, [email protected], has been added. To access [email protected], click on "[email protected]" above.
• Better: Your email address has been added. To access it, click "[email protected]" above.