About UX writing - tips, best practices, and examples

Every type of writing follows its own rules.

Writing a scientific paper is very different from crafting an ad. And writing an ad is not the same as writing an opinion piece. Today, we’re diving into UX writing.

Put simply, UX writing is all the text a user sees—or hears (hello, Alexa!)—when interacting with a digital product. From buttons and error messages to onboarding flows, UX writing guides users through a digital experience.

UX writing examples: Its main goals

✅ Help users move from point A to point B Example: Point A – Opening the app for the first time Point B – Completing a task (buying a book, booking a table, setting up an account)

✅ Make every step clear and understandable Users should always know what’s happening: “Did my payment go through?” , “What happens if I tap this?” Confusion causes drop-off, so clarity is key.

✅ Remove friction If the language is confusing, unclear, or too complex, users will leave. Simple as that.

When UX writing fails, small problems snowball into bigger ones. But the good news? Writing is also the solution to avoid that kind of issues.

UX Writing best practices: Write helpful, human, and effective UX copy

Let’s break it down with three essential tips.

1. Write like you’re talking to a friend

You don’t need to know someone personally to write in a friendly, conversational way.

When you talk to a friend, you keep it simple. You don’t say, “I hereby express my positive regard…” You say, “I like you.”

And that’s exactly how UX copy should feel — natural, approachable, human. People trust language that sounds like theirs.

Here’s a quick thought experiment: Imagine two apps. One uses clear, familiar language. The other is packed with jargon. Which one would you rather use?

Right. So, here’s a tip: when in doubt, start by writing like you’d explain it to a friend. It might not be your final draft, but it’s a great place to begin.

Remember:

Less text = less effort

Less effort = more engagement

Instead of: “Pursuing the societal protocol regarding one’s birth…” , Say: “Hey, Ricardo, happy birthday!”

1. Write like a GPS

When you’re late for work and open your GPS, what do you want? A scenic route full of poetry—or the fastest way there?

Exactly. Users are often in a hurry, too. So, guide them quickly and clearly. Be direct. Be practical.

Don’t meander. Don’t make them guess.

1. Write like a telegram

Back when people paid for every word in a telegram, they didn’t waste any. UX writing works the same way.

You need to say:

What the user should do

Why it matters

What happens next

That’s it. No fancy metaphors. No clever puns. Just what’s needed.

If you can say something in five words, don’t use six. Trim the excess. Be ruthless. As Faulkner put it: “Kill your darlings.”

In the end, UX writing is a conversation between the brand (represented by your words) and the user (a real person with limited time and attention).

So, make that conversation natural. Make it easy. Make it human.

Because no one has ever said, “Wow, that was too easy to understand.” Have you?

‍