Microcopy

Microcopy Audit Skill

How this skill behaves (read first)

This is an evaluative skill — it reviews existing copy, auto-runs, and is built to be called as a validation step by generative skills (the ux-microcopy writer, plus typography, dashboard, onboarding, and component skills hand off here for their labels and messages).

It owns copy quality. Deliberate deferrals:

• Manipulative copy (confirmshaming, fake urgency, guilt) → the dark-patterns audit owns intent; flag and route.
• Copy accessibility specifics (alt text rules, screen-reader behavior) → the accessibility audit; this skill flags plain-language/clarity, defers the technical a11y mechanics.

Scope discipline. When invoked directly (the user named this audit), review only this concern — don't pull in sibling audits. It runs alongside other lenses only when an orchestrator (ux-design-review) or a generative skill calls it under docs/orchestration-policy.md, where it sits in Tier A — always-relevant, auto-runs. Explicit scope always wins.

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What this skill changes vs. default behavior

By default, copy review is impressionistic ("sounds fine") and partial — it misses the hidden copy (error states, empty states) and never checks consistency across a flow. This skill forces:

1. A content inventory — sweep all copy, including hidden states.
2. Named criteria — clarity, concision, action-orientation, consistency, tone fit, inclusivity — not vibes.
3. A rewrite for each finding, plus severity.
4. A consistency pass across the whole flow, which single-screen review can't do.

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The audit method (content inventory)

1. Inventory the copy. List every piece of text in the flow/product — and don't miss hidden content: error messages, empty states, tooltips, confirmations, notifications.
2. Evaluate against the criteria below. Capture screenshots/locations so fixes are easy to apply.
3. Prioritize — one step at a time; lead with what costs users most.
4. Recommend rewrites, not just flags.

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The criteria — what to check and what a violation looks like

1. Clarity & plain language

Flag when: jargon or high-register words; ambiguous phrasing; copy that needs re-reading.

• ❌ "Authentication credentials could not be validated."
• ✅ "That password doesn't match. Try again or reset it."

2. Concision

Flag when: filler words, multi-sentence labels, saying in 20 words what 6 would carry.

3. Action-orientation & specificity

Flag when: generic labels ("OK", "Yes", "Submit", "Start"); CTAs that don't say what happens or why.

• ❌ "Submit" → ✅ "Create account"

4. Consistency

Flag when: the same concept is named differently across the product ("scheduling" vs. "booking"), inconsistent button verbs, or platform-mismatched terms ("click" on mobile). One term per concept.

5. Tone fit

Flag when: the register is wrong for the moment — a joke on a payment error, cold/robotic copy on a welcome, hedging ("maybe") on a security action. Tone should match brand and moment.

6. Error & empty/success states

Flag when: errors state the problem but not the fix, blame the user, or use ALL-CAPS; empty states are blank instead of teaching the first action; success isn't acknowledged.

7. Inclusivity & clarity for all

Flag when: gendered pronouns where neutral works; non-descriptive links ("click here"/"More"); placeholder used as the only label. (Technical a11y → accessibility audit.)

8. Honesty

Flag when: confirmshaming, manufactured urgency, guilt, or confusing double-negatives. Note it and route to the dark-patterns audit for the intent classification.

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Severity rating

Severity	Meaning
Critical	Copy blocks or misleads — an error with no path forward, a label that causes the wrong action, manipulative copy.
Major	Real friction — vague CTAs, jargon, inconsistent terms for the same concept, wrong tone in a sensitive moment.
Minor	Polish — wordiness, a slightly off but understandable phrase.

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Audit output format

## Microcopy Audit — [Screen / Flow]
Context: [product voice · audience · the moment]

### Critical
- [Location] "current copy" → "rewrite" — why. (Criterion)
### Major
- …
### Minor
- …
### Working well ✓
- …

**Consistency notes:** terms used inconsistently across the flow.
**Top 3 rewrites:** highest-impact fixes.

End with the consistency notes and top rewrites — those are what a calling generator or writer acts on.

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How to run a good audit

1. Inventory first, including hidden states — that's where the worst copy hides.
2. Check consistency across the whole flow, not just each screen alone.
3. Rewrite, don't just flag — show the better version.
4. Match tone to the moment, not a single house style.
5. Defer manipulation intent to dark-patterns and technical a11y to accessibility.

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Common do/don't patterns

❌ Don't	✅ Do
"The copy sounds fine"	Inventory all copy (incl. hidden states); name criteria; rate severity
Review one screen in isolation	Check terminology consistency across the whole flow
Flag without fixing	Provide the rewrite
Pass generic "OK/Submit" labels	Flag → verb + outcome
Miss error/empty states	Audit the hidden copy explicitly
Re-derive manipulation or a11y rules	Route to dark-patterns / accessibility

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Source lessons (Uxcel)

• Content Audits for UX Writing
• Ensuring Consistency in UX Copy
• 10 Microcopy Tips
• Patterns in UX Writing
• Writing Action-Based Messages
• Accessibility in UX Microcopy