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As you design your Office Add-ins, consider the voice you use in your UI text and elements. Strive to match the voice and tone of the Office UI, which is conversational, engaging, and accessible to users.
- Use a natural style. Write the way you speak. Avoid jargon and overly technical words and phrases. Use terms that are familiar to your users.
- Use simple, direct language. Use short words and sentences, and active voice in your text.
- Be consistent. Use the same words for the same concepts throughout.
- Engage the user. Address the user as "you". Avoid using third person. Use imperatives for user tasks.
- Be helpful and empathetic. Make your text positive, polite, supportive, and encouraging. Emphasize what users can accomplish ― not what they can't.
- Know your customers. Be mindful of cultural considerations and globalization when you use idioms or colloquialisms.
See also
- Guidelines for writing for all abilities
- Top 10 tips for Microsoft style and voice
- Guidelines on word choice
- Office Add-in validation policies
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Office Add-ins