The only UX writing terms you need to know
There are a buncha buzzwords in the UX content world.
Before they hit you like a swarm of flies on a windshield, I wanted to give you a cheat sheet you can refer back to whenever a word has you going to Google.
Without further ado… 👇
A/B testing
An A/B test compares two versions of something against each other to determine which one performs better. One version is deemed “A,” and the other is deemed “B.” You can A/B test everything from the copy in a button to the organization of elements on the screen. But the key is to only test one variable at a time.
Disclaimer: As a UX writer, you won’t be responsible for setting up or programming A/B tests. But you might be responsible for coming up with ideas of different variations to test, forming hypotheses behind why the new version will move metrics.
Accessibility
The art and science of making user interfaces usable by people with visual, auditory, physical, or other differences.
Alt text
Secret copy that describes an image in a few words. It’s usually coded and not visible inside the product. Alt text is important for accessibility.
Call-to-action (CTA)
A short command that directs the user to the desired action on a screen.
Cognitive load
Cognitive load is everything you’re trying to hold in your head at once. Good design lowers cognitive load.
Content hierarchy
The process of strategically ordering the info on a screen, so the user understands the most important points first.
Empty state
Think of an empty box — it’s the same thing. Empty states provide context when there’s nothing to display just yet.
Error message
A message that shows up to tell the user something went wrong and needs to be corrected.
Heuristic
Mental shortcuts that allow people to solve problems and make judgments quickly and efficiently. Kinda like cheat-sheets.
Information architecture (IA)
Simply put, the skeletal structure of all your content.
Microcopy
Copy, but shorter and in digital experiences. Microcopy is mostly words and phrases, not paragraphs or sentences.
Push notification
Messages that are pushed to the user. Push notifications show up on a device, not inside the app.
Style guide
A rule book for how to write for a company’s products. A style guide includes rules for things like grammar, punctuation, and word choice.
Tooltip
User-triggered messages that provide extra info about a page, element, or feature.
Usability
The measurement of how easy it is for a user to get things done in a digital product.
User
You, me, and the guy next door 👋 A user is anyone who uses a digital product on a phone, tablet, or computer.
User research
Interviewing users to uncover opportunities to improve digital products.
UX (user experience)
The experience a user goes through in a digital product.
UX writing
Using words to design helpful, usable, and informative product experiences to create a conversation between the product and the user.
UI (user interface)
All the visual stuff. UI design is what makes digital product "pretty."
Voice & tone
Voice is the product's personality and embodies how they talk. Tone changes based on whom you’re talking to, but stays within the same personality, or voice.
Happy UX writing 🖖