UX writing as letter writing
What is UX writing?
“UX writing is the process of designing the conversation between a product and its user.”
UX writing is all about designing the words people see and hear when they interact with software. At the same time, there are four dimensions in UX writing.
- Humor
- Formality
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
All contents in an app or website will fall under these four dimensions.
Little about Letter writing
“If one seems to hear the person talking as one reads the letter, it is a good letter.” — A.C. Benson
Letter writing is the exchange of written or printed messages. Everyone would have the habit of writing letters in their school and college days. And also we have written different kinds of letters in different situations. Some of them are,
- Apology Letter,
- Recommendation Letter (To suggest some options),
- Information Letter,
- Congratulations Letter,
- Farewell & Impression (To impress a person) Letters.
UX writing versus Letter writing
The main differences between UX writing and Letter writing are size and medium.
Letter writing is a pattern which we can write for our convenience. In letter writing, the number of words and the number of letters has no limits (Formal letters have some exceptional cases).
But in UX writing, there is a limitation for the number of words and the number of letters. In UX writing, we have limits to express the message to the user.
In short, we can write for one page to express our thoughts in Letter writing. But in UX writing, we have to convey it in one or two sentences.
And also, pen and paper is the medium for Letter writing (some exceptions for nowadays). But UX writing is exclusively for digital platforms.
UX writing as Letter writing
Now, I am going to relate the tone of voice in UX writing with different kinds of Letters.
UX writing as an apology letter
An apology letter is one of the types of formal letters which we have written to ask sorry for our actions. So it shows regretting feeling to the user for the things we have made. Here is an example of the tone of voice in UX writing as an apology letter.
This type of voice tone in UX writing falls under the Respectfulness dimension.
Sample situations to use the regretting voice tone in UX writing are,
- If your product fails to meet the user needs.
- If a process took more time than expected.
- If something happens, that will make the user feel annoyed, frustrated, or angry.
- If the actions of the user went wrong.
In this example, they have taken the blame and inform the user about the issue. And also, they pleased the user to retry once again. Here, the tone of voice in UX writing exhibits the regretting feeling to the user to make them understand their situation.
Some real-time examples of creative writings that exhibits the same regretting feeling:
UX writing as a recommendation letter
The purpose of a recommendation letter is to suggest or recommend something to the reader. It should give an instructive feeling to the reader. Example of the tone of voice in UX writing as a recommendation letter.
This type of voice tone falls under the Respectfulness dimension in UX writing. Seldom this type of voice tone also has humor and enthusiasm dimensions.
Here are some sample situations to use the recommendation voice tone in UX writing.
- Suggest options for users in an app.
- Promote an app to the user.
- Motivate users to become PRO.
In the above example, the motive of that illustration is to convey that the blue button is crucial to the user.
Some real-time examples for recommendation voice tone in UX writing:
UX writing as an information letter
The information letter is one of the types of formal letters that we have written to inform the status of the system or result of a process. It gives an informative (enlightened) feeling when the user reads it. Here is an example of the tone of voice in UX writing as an information letter.
This type of voice tone in UX writing falls under multiple dimensions, i.e., Humor, Formality, and enthusiasm dimensions.
The following are some sample situations to use the informative voice tone in UX writing.
- Show the status of the system.
- Inform the result of a process.
- When entered into another circumstance.
Sometimes this type of content exhibits requesting voice tones like asking permission from to user to act.
The following are some sample situations to use the requesting voice tone in UX writing.
- Ask permission to act.
- Accept the terms and conditions while Signing up in an app.
- When entering into another circumstance.
In the above example, the website asks permission to continue on that site. At the same time, it informs the user that it uses cookies. Here the site gives info to the user and also asks permission to act.
Some real-time examples for informative voice tone in UX writing:
UX writing as a congratulations letter
When somebody reads a congratulations letter, it gives a warm and enthusiastic feeling to them. It has been writing to congratulate on their success. Here is an example of the tone of voice in UX writing as a congratulations letter.
This type of voice tone in UX writing often falls under the enthusiasm and humor dimensions.
Here are some sample situations to use this type of voice tone in UX writing.
- When the user unlocked an achievement.
- When the user completed a process successfully.
- When the goal of the product or service accomplished.
In the above example, the user upgraded to the master level. For that, the product gives 1000 points as a reward to the user. This one is an achievement for the user and also may be one of the goals of the product.
Some real-time examples for warm and enthusiastic voice tone in UX writing:
UX writing as a farewell and impression letter
Farewell Letter is a goodbye message to someone close to us. When a person reads a farewell letter, it gives a heavy feeling to him/her. Here all the users are close to the product.
On the other hand, an impression letter is a welcome message or an introduction to something to the reader. It gives a warm and enthusiastic feeling to the person who reads it. Here are the examples of the sad and impressive tone of voice in UX writing.
Example for Sad tone of voice in UX writing
This type of voice tone in UX writing falls under the respectfulness dimension. And also this type of voice tone is also compared to Feedback letter also.
Here are some sample situations to use the sad tone of voice in UX writing.
- When the user finishes relationships with a product or service (During the offboarding process).
- When the user gives poor feedback to the product or service.
Most of the time this kind of content tries to say the things that going to lose by the user if they said goodbye to the product or service.
Some real-time examples for this type of voice tone in UX writing:
Example for impressive tone of voice in UX writing
This type of voice tone in UX writing falls under the enthusiasm as well as the humor dimensions.
Here are some sample situations to use the impressive tone of voice in UX writing.
- Onboarding Screens.
- To make the user install your product or service.
Some real-time examples for warm and enthusiastic voice tone in UX writing:
Summary
- We can write for one page to express our thoughts in Letter writing. But in UX writing, we have to convey it in one or two sentences.
- UX writing is a part of user experience design that gives an idea about the product or service in minimal words.
- Exceptional UX writing will trigger the thoughts of the users when they read it.
Closure to this article
Yes, we are in the conclusion part of this article. Again, this article is an imagination to connect the UX writing aspects with the different kinds of Letter writing.
The main motive of this article is to explain the UX writing aspects to the end-user in a simple way. I hope you got the things that I tried to say.
Here are some titbits of best UX writings for your sense
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