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Form Error Messages

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:54 pm
by Benjamin
How do you prefer to word your form error messages? For example, do you prefer to say:
  • Your name is required
  • Please enter your name
  • You must enter your name
  • A name must be entered
  • A name is required
How do you word yours and why?

Re: Form Error Messages

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:59 am
by matthijs
I would pick the second "Please enter your name", because it sounds the friendliest. Error messages are one of the most annoying things to deal with as a user, so no need to make it any worse by "You must ..".

The other ones are some where in between, being somewhat neutral.

It's the same with any other communication. Say you write an email to a client:
"You must provide me with the copy for the website next week"
compare that to:
"Please provide me with the copy for the website next week"

I believe it helps to pay attention to those things.

Re: Form Error Messages

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:27 am
by Hadi
I will choose "Please enter your name" it is more polite and it is more friendly rather than the others :).