Avoid Clutter and Confusion
To avoid screen clutter and confusion, let users decide if they want to see the full range of options. This search dialog in Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia has a button that expands or contracts the dialog to offer simple or advanced features.
Italics
When you italicize text in Microsoft Word, both the selected region and the cursor automatically slant to match the italics text style. It's a small touch, but it helps users determine if the selection includes spaces immediately before or after the italicized text.
BAD
Beware of Confusing Messages
Beware of confusing messages. In this dialog, clicking the OK button actually cancels the search operation, but the
user might easily click the Cancel button instead--especially since it's highlighted as the default button.
Overcrowding Not Good
Avoid crowding a bunch of similar buttons or controls into a small area of the screen. This confusing hodgepodge in Windows 3.1 was cleaned up in Windows 95.
POLITICALLY INCORRECT
Pointing Fingers, Placing Blame
Apple's guidelines for interfaces discourage use of the word
error
in error messages because it implies the user is at fault.
The Good, the Bad, and the Politically Incorrect
