Copy

The copy for GitLab is clear and direct. We strike a clear balance between professional and friendly. We can empathesize with users (such as celebrating completing all Todos), and remain respectful of the importance of the work. We are that trusted, friendly coworker that is helpful and understanding.

The copy and messaging is a core part of the experience of GitLab and the conversation with our users. Follow the below conventions throughout GitLab.

Note: We are currently inconsistent with this guidance. Images below are created to illustrate the point. As this guidance is refined, we will ensure that our experiences align.

Contents

• Brevity
• Sentence case
• Terminology

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Brevity

Users will skim content, rather than read text carefully. When familiar with a web app, users rely on muscle memory, and may read even less when moving quickly. A good experience should quickly orient a user, regardless of their experience, to the purpose of the current screen. This should happen without the user having to consciously read long strings of text. In general, text is burdensome and adds cognitive load. This is especially pronounced in a powerful productivity tool such as GitLab. We should not rely on words as a crutch to explain the purpose of a screen. The current navigation and composition of the elements on the screen should get the user 95% there, with the remaining 5% being specific elements such as text. This means that, as a rule, copy should be very short. A long message or label is a red flag hinting at design that needs improvement.

Example: Use Add instead of Add issue as a button label. Preferrably use context and placement of controls to make it obvious what clicking on them will do.

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Sentence case

Use sentence case for all titles, headings, labels, menu items, and buttons.

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Terminology

Only use the terms in the tables below.

Issues

Adjectives (states)

Term
Open
Closed
Deleted

Example: Use 5 open issues and don't use 5 pending issues.

Verbs (actions)

Term	Use	Don't
Add	Add an issue	Don't use create or new
View	View an open or closed issue
Edit	Edit an open or closed issue	Don't use update
Close	Close an open issue
Re-open	Re-open a closed issue	There should never be a need to use open as a verb
Delete	Delete an open or closed issue

Add issue

When viewing a list of issues, there is a button that is labeled Add. Given the context in the example, it is clearly referring to issues. If the context were not clear enough, the label could be Add issue. Clicking the button will bring you to the Add issue form. Other add flows should be similar.

The form should be titled Add issue. The submit button should be labeled Submit. Don't use Add, Create, New, or Save changes. The cancel button should be labeled Cancel. Don't use Back.

Edit issue

When in context of an issue, the affordance to edit it is labeled Edit. If the context is not clear enough, Edit issue could be considered. Other edit flows should be similar.

The form should be titled Edit issue. The submit button should be labeled Save. Don't use Edit, Update, Submit, or Save changes. The cancel button should be labeled Cancel. Don't use Back.

Merge requests

Adjectives (states)

Term
Open
Merged

Verbs (actions)

Term	Use	Don't
Add	Add a merge request	Do not use create or new
View	View an open or merged merge request
Edit	Edit an open or merged merge request	Do not use update
Approve	Approve an open merge request
Remove approval, unapproved	Remove approval of an open merge request	Do not use unapprove as that is not an English word
Merge	Merge an open merge request