What is the best practice for text in a dialog box?

Question

This is not so much a technical question but still part of the development cycle.

I'm having to word all of my dialog boxes in this program I am working on and I was trying to get a good handle on the best practices for making text for the average end user to comprehend.

I have three core principles I could think of

1. Keep it short - yet long enough to explain thoroughly

2. Avoid personal remarks such as "keep in mind", "just so you know", etc

3. Call an apple an apple - If a concept is highly technical do not dumb it down with another word that doesn't fully encapsulate the idea.

Are these good principles to go by and/or is there something better to add.

Answer 1

There are various platform specific guidelines, e.g.

Microsoft WUXI --- Dialog text
Apple

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The things I would add:

• consistency - keep style and tone consistent throughout the application.
• consistency - use the same names for concepts and elements of your app
• drop everyting you can live without - explanations belong to online help, don't pack the dialog to tight, leave room.
• Use simple words. Not all of your users are native english speakers.
• Use present tense, active voice
• Avoid exclamation marks
• Avoid multiple exclamation marks