Itqualityassurance
- Should you say sorry in error messages?
- Why is no a negative word and why should we avoid using it?
- Should you say please in error messages?
Should you say sorry in error messages?
Don't. Avoid using “please” and “sorry”. Saying "sorry" in error messages can make the situation worse by causing errors to appear more severe than they actually are.
Why is no a negative word and why should we avoid using it?
Avoid no/not + negative adverbs such as hardly and scarcely. The main problem with combining no/not with negative adverbs is that the double negatives cancel each other out, leaving you with a positive meaning when you most likely intended a negative one.
Should you say please in error messages?
Use “please” only rarely, if ever. Sometimes lengthy instructions or error messages might need a touch of politeness added to one of several sentences, but generally, do not use “please” in English. If you still feel the need, at least avoid using “please” more than once in one text or group of sentences.
