1> **Additional context needed**: audience technical level and users' mental state in context.
  2
  3Find the unclear, confusing, or poorly written interface text and rewrite it. Vague copy creates support tickets and abandonment; specific copy gets users through the task.
  4
  5
  6---
  7
  8## Assess Current Copy
  9
 10Identify what makes the text unclear or ineffective:
 11
 121. **Find clarity problems**:
 13   - **Jargon**: Technical terms users won't understand
 14   - **Ambiguity**: Multiple interpretations possible
 15   - **Passive voice**: "Your file has been uploaded" vs "We uploaded your file"
 16   - **Length**: Too wordy or too terse
 17   - **Assumptions**: Assuming user knowledge they don't have
 18   - **Missing context**: Users don't know what to do or why
 19   - **Tone mismatch**: Too formal, too casual, or inappropriate for situation
 20
 212. **Understand the context**:
 22   - Who's the audience? (Technical? General? First-time users?)
 23   - What's the user's mental state? (Stressed during error? Confident during success?)
 24   - What's the action? (What do we want users to do?)
 25   - What's the constraint? (Character limits? Space limitations?)
 26
 27**CRITICAL**: Clear copy helps users succeed. Unclear copy creates frustration, errors, and support tickets.
 28
 29## Plan Copy Improvements
 30
 31Create a strategy for clearer communication:
 32
 33- **Primary message**: What's the ONE thing users need to know?
 34- **Action needed**: What should users do next (if anything)?
 35- **Tone**: How should this feel? (Helpful? Apologetic? Encouraging?)
 36- **Constraints**: Length limits, brand voice, localization considerations
 37
 38**IMPORTANT**: Good UX writing is invisible. Users should understand immediately without noticing the words.
 39
 40## Improve Copy Systematically
 41
 42Refine text across these common areas:
 43
 44### Error Messages
 45**Bad**: "Error 403: Forbidden"
 46**Good**: "You don't have permission to view this page. Contact your admin for access."
 47
 48**Bad**: "Invalid input"
 49**Good**: "Email addresses need an @ symbol. Try: name@example.com"
 50
 51**Principles**:
 52- Explain what went wrong in plain language
 53- Suggest how to fix it
 54- Don't blame the user
 55- Include examples when helpful
 56- Link to help/support if applicable
 57
 58### Form Labels & Instructions
 59**Bad**: "DOB (MM/DD/YYYY)"
 60**Good**: "Date of birth" (with placeholder showing format)
 61
 62**Bad**: "Enter value here"
 63**Good**: "Your email address" or "Company name"
 64
 65**Principles**:
 66- Use clear, specific labels (not generic placeholders)
 67- Show format expectations with examples
 68- Explain why you're asking (when not obvious)
 69- Put instructions before the field, not after
 70- Keep required field indicators clear
 71
 72### Button & CTA Text
 73**Bad**: "Click here" | "Submit" | "OK"
 74**Good**: "Create account" | "Save changes" | "Got it, thanks"
 75
 76**Principles**:
 77- Describe the action specifically
 78- Use active voice (verb + noun)
 79- Match user's mental model
 80- Be specific ("Save" is better than "OK")
 81
 82### Help Text & Tooltips
 83**Bad**: "This is the username field"
 84**Good**: "Choose a username. You can change this later in Settings."
 85
 86**Principles**:
 87- Add value (don't just repeat the label)
 88- Answer the implicit question ("What is this?" or "Why do you need this?")
 89- Keep it brief but complete
 90- Link to detailed docs if needed
 91
 92### Empty States
 93**Bad**: "No items"
 94**Good**: "No projects yet. Create your first project to get started."
 95
 96**Principles**:
 97- Explain why it's empty (if not obvious)
 98- Show next action clearly
 99- Make it welcoming, not dead-end
100
101### Success Messages
102**Bad**: "Success"
103**Good**: "Settings saved! Your changes will take effect immediately."
104
105**Principles**:
106- Confirm what happened
107- Explain what happens next (if relevant)
108- Be brief but complete
109- Match the user's emotional moment (celebrate big wins)
110
111### Loading States
112**Bad**: "Loading..." (for 30+ seconds)
113**Good**: "Analyzing your data... this usually takes 30-60 seconds"
114
115**Principles**:
116- Set expectations (how long?)
117- Explain what's happening (when it's not obvious)
118- Show progress when possible
119- Offer escape hatch if appropriate ("Cancel")
120
121### Confirmation Dialogs
122**Bad**: "Are you sure?"
123**Good**: "Delete 'Project Alpha'? This can't be undone."
124
125**Principles**:
126- State the specific action
127- Explain consequences (especially for destructive actions)
128- Use clear button labels ("Delete project" not "Yes")
129- Don't overuse confirmations (only for risky actions)
130
131### Navigation & Wayfinding
132**Bad**: Generic labels like "Items" | "Things" | "Stuff"
133**Good**: Specific labels like "Your projects" | "Team members" | "Settings"
134
135**Principles**:
136- Be specific and descriptive
137- Use language users understand (not internal jargon)
138- Make hierarchy clear
139- Consider information scent (breadcrumbs, current location)
140
141## Apply Clarity Principles
142
143Every piece of copy should follow these rules:
144
1451. **Be specific**: "Enter email" not "Enter value"
1462. **Be concise**: Cut unnecessary words (but don't sacrifice clarity)
1473. **Be active**: "Save changes" not "Changes will be saved"
1484. **Be human**: "Oops, something went wrong" not "System error encountered"
1495. **Tell users what to do**, not just what happened
1506. **Be consistent**: Use same terms throughout (don't vary for variety)
151
152**NEVER**:
153- Use jargon without explanation
154- Blame users ("You made an error" → "This field is required")
155- Be vague ("Something went wrong" without explanation)
156- Use passive voice unnecessarily
157- Write overly long explanations (be concise)
158- Use humor for errors (be empathetic instead)
159- Assume technical knowledge
160- Vary terminology (pick one term and stick with it)
161- Repeat information (headers restating intros, redundant explanations)
162- Use placeholders as the only labels (they disappear when users type)
163
164## Verify Improvements
165
166Test that copy improvements work:
167
168- **Comprehension**: Can users understand without context?
169- **Actionability**: Do users know what to do next?
170- **Brevity**: Is it as short as possible while remaining clear?
171- **Consistency**: Does it match terminology elsewhere?
172- **Tone**: Is it appropriate for the situation?
173
174When the copy reads cleanly, hand off to `/impeccable polish` for the final pass.