My role

I joined the team on a six-week contract to write a style guide for the new app. But once they saw the impact of focused, thoughtful UX copy, the contract was extended until well over a year.

As the sole UX writer on the project, I worked on:

• Microcopy across the app – Writing form labels, error messages, tooltips and other interface copy to guide authors, editors and reviewers through a surprisingly intricate flow

• Tone of voice – Creating a style guide that kept things clear for non-native English speakers, without ever sounding patronising

• Editor communications – Writing and sending a monthly update to 1,000 editors, explaining changes, improvements, and ways to get more from the app

• Stakeholder collaboration – Working closely with researchers, editors, and reviewers to refine the language and make sure it worked for every audience

The challenge

Tone was everything. Most users were non-native English speakers, so the copy had to be simple and unambiguous. But the audience was also highly educated and wouldn’t tolerate anything that felt too casual, vague or overly simplified. Finding that balance shaped every part of the writing.

The outcome

While I don’t have hard metrics, my work helped improve the app’s clarity and flow, supporting thousands of researchers, editors and reviewers as they navigated the complex submission process.