Practice / FIELDNOTES
Write for the person on the other side.
Clear language is a small act of consideration with a lasting effect.
Lead with the useful information
People usually arrive with a question or a task. Put the information that helps them act near the beginning. A clear opening gives the rest of the page a purpose.
Use the words your reader would use. Familiar language reduces the effort needed to understand an unfamiliar process.
Make the next step visible
Explain what happens after an action. A good label can describe a destination, a result or a decision. It should help someone choose before they click.
When something needs attention, say what changed and what the person can do. Specific information is more useful than a general message that something went wrong.
Read it once more
Read the page aloud and notice where the sentence asks you to hold too much information. Split that sentence or put its main point earlier.
A final read is an opportunity to remove friction. Keep the details that help the reader and give each one enough room to be understood.
Give the important things a clear place, and enough room to be understood.