Guide, don't prescribe

guide-dont-prescribe

Guide, don’t prescribe — merchant in control; enough info to decide.

Description

Guide, do not prescribe: the merchant stays in control and gets enough information to decide. Copy should orient the choice without taking the decision away. Pass when copy guides with enough detail to decide and the merchant stays in control of the outcome. Fail when prescriptive copy removes the decision from them, or when there is too little information left to decide responsibly.

When to use

Writing guidance that helps merchants decide without removing control.

Not when

Prescriptive copy that removes the decision or too little to decide.

Agent hint

Guide with enough to decide; keep the merchant in control—do not prescribe.

Pass

Copy guides with enough to decide; merchant stays in control.

Fail

Prescriptive copy that removes the decision, or too little to decide.

Citations

Shopify — Product content principles

https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/design/content