Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by scrozier 606 days ago
I'm generally with the author on this, but their examples are inconsistent. I think from a language perspective, the linked text should be a verb phrase. We want the user to do something (click here), and verbs are "do words."

So, instead of

For additional order details, go to [your account].

use

For additional order details, [go to your account].

(The author does this inconsistently.)

And in this case:

To review or adjust your AutoPay settings, [click here].

You can review or adjust your [AutoPay settings] at any time.

they change the meaning of the sentence ever so slightly with the extraneous "at any time," showing that it is not always simple to remove the "click here."

Maybe in this case, it should be a button or a simple stand-alone link, like

[Review or adjust your AutoPay settings]

2 comments

I saw this the other day:

  Covered in [The Whatever Times] was an article about something something,
The link went to the article and not the Times home page. That bothered me more than it should have.
You were completely justified in your botheredness.
>I think from a language perspective, the linked text should be a verb phrase

I would disagree. Links are references to resources, not actions (assuming your link isn't a POST request).

Example:

For additional order details, go to [your Account page].

See also wikis.

I can see your point. I think I'm convinced. Thanks!