Alerts Don't blame name next step

alerts-dont-blame-name-next-step

Don’t blame the user; name the next step. Polite; include how to recover. Educational material is allowed because people will read an error that unblocks them. Don’t notify off the current goal. Destructive work → confirmation modal, not an alert.

Description

USWDS alerts do not blame the user; they name the next step, stay polite, and include how to recover. Educational material is allowed because people will read an error that unblocks them. Do not notify off the current goal, and send destructive work to a confirmation modal rather than an alert. Blameful copy, missing next steps, off-goal notices, or alerts replacing destructive confirms fail.

When to use

Writing recovery-oriented alerts tied to the user’s current goal.

Not when

Blameful error copy, goal-unrelated notices, or alerts standing in for destructive confirms.

Agent hint

Write polite recovery steps on-goal; use a confirmation modal for destructive work.

Pass

Copy is polite, names recovery, stays on the current goal; destructive actions use a confirmation modal.

Fail

Blame-the-user copy; no next step; alert used instead of a destructive confirmation; notification unrelated to the current goal.

Citations

USWDS — Alert

https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/alert/