Microcopy
What is Microcopy?
Microcopy is the small text that appears throughout your interface to help users understand what to do and what's happening. It's the button labels, error messages, form instructions, and other brief text that guides people through your product.
Think of microcopy as the helpful voice that speaks to users at just the right moment. When someone sees "Save changes" on a button, that's microcopy. When they get an error message like "Please enter a valid email address," that's microcopy too.
Unlike marketing copy or long articles, microcopy is functional text that appears exactly when users need it. It's not trying to sell anything or tell a story, it's just trying to help people accomplish their goals.
Where You'll Find Microcopy
Microcopy shows up everywhere in digital products:
Navigation elements like button labels ("Continue to checkout"), link text ("Learn more"), and breadcrumbs that show where you are.
Forms and inputs including field labels ("Email address"), placeholder text ("Enter your email"), help text ("Password must be at least 8 characters"), and validation messages.
Feedback and status updates like success messages ("Changes saved"), error messages ("Unable to connect. Please try again."), and loading states ("Uploading...").
Onboarding and help such as tooltips, tour text, and feature introductions that explain how things work.
What Makes Good Microcopy
The best microcopy follows a few simple principles:
Be clear and direct. Use everyday language that your users will understand immediately. Avoid jargon, technical terms, or overly clever phrasing.
Be helpful, not just informative. Good microcopy doesn't just tell users what happened, it tells them what to do next. Instead of "Error occurred," try "Please check your internet connection and try again."
Match your brand's voice. Your microcopy should sound like your brand, but it should always prioritize clarity over personality. A playful brand can still be clear and helpful.
Be consistent. Use the same terms and tone throughout your product. If you call it "Save changes" in one place, don't call it "Update" somewhere else.
Common Microcopy Mistakes
Many interface text problems stem from simple oversights:
Vague button labels like "Submit" or "Continue" don't tell users what will happen when they click.
Unhelpful error messages that just say something went wrong without explaining how to fix it.
Missing context where users don't understand why they're being asked for certain information.
Inconsistent terminology that confuses users by using different words for the same thing.
Writing Better Microcopy
Start by thinking about what users are trying to accomplish and what they need to know at each step. Put yourself in their shoes and ask: "What would I want to know right now?"
For buttons and actions, be specific about what will happen. "Save changes" is better than "Submit," and "Add to cart" is better than "Continue."
For error messages, explain what went wrong and how to fix it. "Please enter a valid email address" is much more helpful than "Invalid input."
For forms, explain why you need the information when it's not obvious. "We'll use this to send you order updates" is better than just asking for a phone number.
For loading states, be honest about what's happening. "Processing your payment" is more informative than just "Loading..."
Testing Your Microcopy
The best way to improve your microcopy is to test it with real users. Watch how people interact with your interface and see where they get confused or stuck.
A/B testing different versions of button text or error messages can reveal what works best.
Usability testing will show you where users need more guidance or clearer instructions.
Analytics can help you identify where users are dropping off or getting confused.
The Impact of Good Microcopy
When microcopy is done well, it can significantly improve your user experience:
Users complete tasks more successfully because they understand what to do at each step.
Support requests decrease because users can solve problems on their own.
Your brand feels more trustworthy and professional through consistent, helpful communication.
Accessibility improves because clear, descriptive text works better for everyone, including users with disabilities.
Remember, microcopy might be small, but it has a big impact on how people experience your product. Take the time to get it right, and your users will notice the difference.