Content style guide
Error and alert messages
Error and alert messages mainly appear in interactive experiences such as tools, forms, and applications. This category of messaging has visual design and formatting that affects content, which we explain in the Help users to recover from errors pattern.
Error and alert message titles
When possible, keep error and alert message titles (headings) to 50 characters, including spaces. Error and alert message titles should follow the general guidelines for page and section titles.
Learn more in the Page titles and section titles section of the style guide
Slim alert length
Keep slim alerts to 100 characters (with spaces) when possible. If you have a slim alert that’s longer than 100 characters, contact the VA.gov content and IA team. The team will work with you to edit the alert or determine if we need to make an exception (up to 150 characters).
Error and alert messages dictionary
The error and alert messages dictionary shows the title, content, component, and state for many common error and alert messages on the site. The messages dictionary is broken up into 4 types of messages:
System
System messages alert the person of important system-related issues or statuses. System messages are initiated by the system and not by the person’s actions.
Engagement
Engagement messages recommend that the person enter or update data in the system. Engagement messages can be initiated by either the system or another person.
Access
Access messages appear when the person tries to access an item that’s not available to them. For example, an access message may appear when a record has been deleted or the person doesn’t have access to a piece of information.
Feedback
Feedback messages appear as a response to a person’s actions. The majority of create, read, update, and delete actions will result in feedback messaging.