The principle that error messages should be expressed in plain language, precisely state the problem, and constructively suggest a solution. Users should understand what went wrong and how to fix it without needing technical knowledge.
Synonyms
- good error messages
- helpful error recovery
Related terms
In plain words
- explain errors in plain words and how to fix them
- make error messages actually helpful
Usage example
'Your card was declined — please check the expiry date or try another card' helps users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
Don't confuse with…
- error preventionError prevention keeps errors from happening; this heuristic makes the ones that do happen understandable and fixable.
Categories
- Usability principles