Correct phrasing of links in a User Interface

One important yet sometimes overlooked aspect in web design is the phrasing used for hyperlinks. The formerly omnipresent “Click here” is being phased out of the user experience, and with good reason. Link phrases like “Click here” focuses on the mechanics of the action instead of the user’s intent of that action, drawing attention away from the user experience of the UI design and instead putting it on the technical aspects. Also, generic phrases like “click here” are not rooted in anything contextual. These terms can apply anywhere and on any page, regardless of content. In addition, including the instructions on how to use a hyperlink would seem unnecessary. In a society that is more and more experienced and knowledgeable in computer technology, it may seem like a “dumbing down” of the user interface to instruct users on what to do with the links they encounter.