I hate these words

Personal top 4 most useless words from a UX writer.

The Duel After the Masquerade by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1857, detail)

I learned never to use exclamation points in email subjects again when my boss threw a beer can at me.

At 20, I worked at a law firm. The Beer Can Incident happened around midnight, at the point when anyone still in the office was usually getting drunk. My job was mostly writing emails. Whenever I sent one to a client, I’d forward a copy to my boss, a senior attorney.

Well, he didn’t like my writing style — and he was right. You really shouldn’t add exclamation points to emails. The can flew. I learned my lesson. At least the can was empty.

Now, at almost 29, the only thing connecting me to the law is the Korean series Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I work in content design, and I’m moderately happy with it.

But still, in content design or UX writing, there are unspoken rules and taboos around certain words and writing styles. While they may not earn you a lump on the head, they will work against you.

Which words are not welcome in UX writing?

1. Useless words.

Useless words are those that take up space unnecessarily.

Designing for delight is dead, indeed. What we truly value in UX writing nowadays is…