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Plate WRT·016 · UX writingGrid E2 · Rev. 2026-09-12

Onboarding Copy

Teach one thing at the moment it is needed, in the reader's words, and get out of the way.

UX writingExpert heuristicIntermediate

Definition

Onboarding copy is everything read between arrival and the first useful outcome: welcome screens, setup prompts, tour steps, checklist items and the first empty state.

Expert heuristic. A review criterion developed by practitioners. Useful and widely taught, but evaluated by judgement rather than measurement.

On this plate
  1. 1Definition
  2. 2The same step, three ways
  3. 3What to cut first
  4. 4Words in a first session
  5. 5In practice
  6. 6Local chart
  7. 7Continue from here

Reach for this when

  • Writing first-run, setup or activation flows.
  • Day-two return rates are far below signup rates.
  • First-run screens are being written, where the reader has the least patience and the most to learn.

Common mistakes

  • Front-loaded tours that are forgotten by the time they matter.
  • Progress language about setup rather than about value.
  • Skip options hidden, which converts a choice into a trap.

The same step, three ways

WeakBetterBestWhy the last one wins
Welcome to Acme!Welcome. Let's set up your workspaceImport your first project, or start from a templateOffers an action rather than a greeting.
Complete your profileAdd a photo and job titleAdd a photo so teammates recognise your commentsTies a chore to a benefit the reader can see.
Step 2 of 7Step 2 of 7: invite your teamInvite your team. You can skip this and do it later.Names the step and makes the exit visible.
You're all set!Setup completeYour workspace is ready. Next: create your first report.Points at the next real action instead of celebrating configuration.

What to cut first

  • Any step that collects something you could default, infer or ask for later.
  • Tour steps explaining controls the reader has no reason to use yet.
  • Congratulation screens between the reader and the thing they came for.
  • Feature tours written from the product's structure rather than from a task.

Words in a first session

Do

  • Say what the reader is about to do, not what the product is.
  • Cut anything the interface already shows.
  • Use the vocabulary they arrived with, and introduce yours once it has something to attach to.
  • Let the first screen ask for one thing.

Do not

  • Open with a mission statement.
  • Explain a concept before the reader has met it.
  • Write a tour caption for every control on screen.
  • Congratulate somebody for completing a step they did not choose to take.

In practice

  1. i.

    Less copy, higher completion

    What usually wins

    Cutting an onboarding screen from four sentences to one raised completion, because the screen was being skipped entirely rather than read. The shorter version was the first one anybody read at all.

Local chart

WRT·016 · Region III · Grid E2

This entry and the entries it is stated to connect with. Each line is labelled with what the connection means.

Goal-Gradient EffectLAW·014 · PRINCIPLES BEHIND THISParadox of the Active UserPSY·007 · PRINCIPLES BEHIND THISOnboarding ChecklistCHK·005 · CHECK YOUR WORKOnboardingPAT·014 · RELATED CONCEPTEmpty State CopyWRT·010 · RELATED CONCEPTMicrocopyWRT·001 · RELATED CONCEPT

Continue from here

Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.

Principles behind this

The reasoning this solution is an application of.

Check your work

Review passes that test whether this was done properly.

Related concept

Connected closely enough to change how you apply this.