zero·style

Dictionary entry

voice and tone

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UI / UXCurated · verified

Voice is the consistent personality a product's writing has, say friendly and plainspoken; tone is how that voice flexes to fit the moment — gentler in an error, more upbeat in a success message. Together they keep an app sounding like itself while still reading the room.

Synonyms

  • tone of voice

Related terms

In plain words

  • how the app 'sounds' when it talks to you
  • the personality of the writing

Usage example

The style guide sets one voice for the brand but adjusts tone between a payment failure and a welcome screen.

Don't confuse with…

  • voiceVoice stays constant across the whole product; tone shifts with the situation and the user's likely mood.

Categories

  • Content & UX writing

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Focus term

Directly related

Two hops away

  • Relatedvoice and tone related of brand voice
  • Relatedvoice and tone related of content design
  • Relatedvoice and tone related of microcopy
  • Relatedvoice and tone related of plain language
  • Relatedbrand voice related of brand guidelines
  • Relatedbrand voice related of brand identity
  • Relatedbrand voice related of brand personality
  • Relatedmicrocopy related of call to action
  • Relatedplain language related of content design
  • Relatedcontent design related of content strategy
  • Relatedmicrocopy related of error message
  • Relatedmicrocopy related of helper text
  • Relatedcontent design related of microcopy
  • Relatedmicrocopy related of placeholder text
  • Relatedcontent design related of plain language
  • Relatedplain language related of readability
  • Relatedplain language related of scannability
  • Relatedbrand voice related of tagline
  • Relatedmicrocopy related of tooltip
  • Relatedcontent design related of voice and tone

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