Writing for Empty States and Loading Screens

 Empty states and loading screens are often overlooked in product design, yet they’re some of the most valuable opportunities for user engagement. These are the moments when users are either waiting for something to happen or haven’t yet added any data to their experience. Rather than leaving these screens blank or filled with generic spinners, good UX writing can turn them into moments of clarity, encouragement, and even delight.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to write effectively for empty states and loading screens, and why these micro-moments matter for overall user experience.


1. What Are Empty States and Loading Screens?

Empty states appear when there’s no data to display—such as a new user’s dashboard, an inbox with no messages, or a deleted content list.

Loading screens show up when data is being fetched or a process is taking time to complete.

Both are temporary—but critical—states in the user journey.


2. Why These Screens Matter

These screens are opportunities to:

Set expectations

Educate users

Reinforce your brand’s tone and personality

Prevent confusion or frustration

Ignoring them can result in users feeling lost, bored, or even thinking something went wrong.


3. Tips for Writing Empty State Messages

✅ Guide the User

Help users understand what’s happening and what to do next.

Example:

“You haven’t added any tasks yet. Click ‘New Task’ to get started.”


✅ Keep It Friendly and On-Brand

Empty states are a chance to express your brand’s tone. Whether it’s fun, professional, or supportive, use language that feels consistent.

Playful tone:

“Quiet in here! Start adding notes to bring your board to life.”

Professional tone:

“No reports to display. Generate one using the filters above.”


✅ Don’t Blame the User

Even if the empty state results from user inaction or deletion, keep the tone positive and helpful.


❌ “You haven’t done anything yet.”

✅ “Let’s begin by creating your first entry.”


✅ Offer Value

You can use the space to educate or inspire users—perhaps with links to tutorials, templates, or product tips.

Example:

“Not sure where to begin? Try our 5-minute getting started guide.”


4. Tips for Writing Loading Screen Messages

✅ Set Expectations

Let users know what’s happening, especially if it’s not immediate.

Example:

“Generating your report. This may take a few seconds.”


✅ Add a Touch of Personality

While users wait, keep them engaged with tone-appropriate copy.

Fun tone:

“Hold tight—your data is on its way 🚀”


Reassuring tone:

“We’re getting things ready. Thanks for your patience.”


✅ Avoid Fake Progress

Avoid misleading progress bars or messages like “Almost there” if the wait is uncertain. If possible, provide actual time estimates or percentage updates.


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Generic placeholders like “No data” or endless spinners without explanation.

Too much text—keep it short and scannable.

Inconsistent tone that doesn’t align with your brand or other touchpoints.


Conclusion

Writing for empty states and loading screens isn’t just about filling space—it’s about guiding, supporting, and connecting with users during transitional moments. By crafting thoughtful, human-centered messages, you turn moments of inactivity into engaging, productive parts of the user journey.

Learn  UI & UX Course Training

Read More : How Tone of Voice Impacts User Experience

Read More : UX Writing Tips for Error States

Read More : How to Write Effective CTAs

Visit Quality Thought Training Institute

Get Direction

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tosca vs Selenium: Which One to Choose?

Choosing the right test automation tool can make or break the efficiency of your QA process. Two widely discussed tools in the test automation space are Tosca by Tricentis and Selenium, the open-source web automation framework. While both tools aim to automate testing and accelerate software delivery, they cater to different needs and teams. In this blog, we’ll provide a comprehensive comparison between Tosca and Selenium to help you decide which one suits your project best. Overview Selenium is an open-source framework primarily used for automating web applications. It supports multiple languages (Java, Python, C#, etc.) and browsers, making it ideal for custom, flexible automation solutions. Tosca, on the other hand, is a commercial test automation tool that supports model-based testing, API testing, mobile, desktop, and even SAP testing. It's designed for enterprise-grade testing with minimal scripting. Key Comparison: Tosca vs Selenium Feature          ...
Read more

How to Build a Reusable Component Library

In modern web development, reusable component libraries are essential for maintaining consistency, reducing code duplication, and accelerating development across projects. Whether you're working in React, Vue, or another front-end framework, building a custom component library allows your team to share UI elements like buttons, modals, form fields, and layout components across multiple applications. In this blog, we’ll explore the key steps and best practices for building a reusable component library from scratch. What is a Reusable Component Library? A reusable component library is a collection of pre-built UI components that follow a consistent design system and can be used across different applications. These components are abstracted to be flexible, customizable, and easily maintained. For example, a button component in a library might support multiple variants (primary, secondary, disabled) and handle various states (loading, success, error). Step-by-Step Guide to Building a C...
Read more

Flask API Optimization: Using Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

When building APIs with Flask, performance and speed are key metrics that directly affect user experience and application scalability. One powerful but often overlooked way to enhance these metrics is through the use of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). While CDNs are traditionally associated with delivering static assets like images, CSS, and JavaScript, they can also play a significant role in optimizing your Flask-based APIs. What Is a CDN? A Content Delivery Network is a globally distributed network of proxy servers that cache content closer to end-users. Instead of every user hitting your central Flask server, a CDN enables them to access cached responses or assets from a nearby server, significantly reducing latency and improving response times. Benefits of Using CDNs with Flask APIs 1. Reduced Latency Latency is the time it takes for a request to travel from the client to your server and back. By caching static or semi-static responses at edge locations, CDNs reduce the distance...
Read more