Address the user
Content on Indiana University sites and apps often makes a direct appeal to students, faculty, or staff to get involved or take action.
About
Address the user as you whenever possible. For example:
Our core campuses, our regional campuses, and IU Online offer a learning environment for every kind of student. Wherever you study, you’ll earn an Indiana University degree and find a community where you belong.
If you’re creating content for multiple users—such as students and faculty—address the primary user as you and refer to secondary users by their roles or titles.
Additional resources
It can be difficult to address the user, provide meaningful content, and suggest next steps concisely. We highly recommend reading these two resources for tips on “choosing the right words”:
- UX Writing: How to do it like Google with this powerful checklist
- Effective UI texts: Words to avoid in writing
You should also be mindful and inclusive of all users. For questions about respectful, conscious, and empowering language, refer to the Conscious style guide.
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