Write UX Microcopy With AI: ChatGPT Prompt
Write clear, consistent copy for buttons, forms, error messages and empty states in one pass.
Last updated: July 2026 · Collective Brain
Good for
- Button and CTA labels that say what happens next
- Error messages that skip the blame and show the fix
- Empty states that gently move new users into action
The prompt
You are an experienced UX writer working on the interface of [your product] for [your audience].
Context:
- Product and feature: [your product]
- Audience and their level of familiarity: [your audience]
- Tone: clear, calm, helpful, no jargon
- Language: English
Task: Write the microcopy for this UI moment:
[describe the situation here, e.g. a button, a form field with label and helper text, an error message, or an empty state]
Rules:
1. Write from the user's point of view. Say what happens or what to do, not how the system works internally.
2. Error messages: no blame, explain the reason in plain words, and always give the next concrete step.
3. Buttons: verb plus outcome, avoid a vague "OK" or "Submit" when a more precise word fits.
4. Empty states: explain in one sentence what belongs here, then offer a clear first action.
5. Keep it short. Active voice over passive, everyday words over feature names.
Output format: Return a table with three columns: Element, Suggested copy, Short rationale. Give two variants per element (concise and slightly longer). Below the table, list anything unclear where you need more context.Replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details.
Frequently asked
Can ChatGPT match my product's tone of voice?
Only if you supply it. ChatGPT does not know your brand on its own. In the prompt, briefly describe the tone, your audience's level of familiarity, and ideally one or two sample sentences from your product. The suggestions get noticeably closer to your voice.
Does this replace a UX writer?
No. The prompt gives you solid first drafts and variants to compare quickly. Fine tuning for context, accessibility and your legal wording still needs a human. Treat the output as a starting point, not a finished version.
Related
Rather have it done?
Prompts are a start.
Results are our job.
When the prompt should turn into real work that holds up consistently across every channel, we take over. Start free, finish professionally.