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Content style guide

Feedback messages

Feedback messages appear as a response to a person’s actions. Most create, read, update, and delete actions will result in feedback messaging.

Note: The Help users to recover from errors pattern has guidance on when to consider instructing the person to call the VA.gov help desk and when to add other “next-step” calls to action.

Learn more in the Help users to recover from errors pattern

Alert length considerations

  • 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.
  • 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).

Task completion success/failure

Scenario Message title Message content Actions Component State Location Application, claim, or form save in progress success (inline) We saved the information you entered so far   N/A Alert Success After affected component Application, claim, or form save in progress success (exit page) We saved your in-progress [application, claim, form] You’ll need to finish the [application, claim, form] and select Submit to apply for [name]. Continue applying now or come back later to finish. Continue your [application, claim, form] Alert Success After page title Application, claim, or form save in progress success (inline) We’re saving your [name of what’s being saved (like new mobile phone number)] We’ll show it here once it’s saved. N/A Alert Success After affected component Application, claim, or form save in progress failure (inline) Your [application, claim, form] didn’t save Try again later. N/A Alert Error After affected component Application, claim, or form general error We need you to start over with this [application, claim, form] We’re sorry. Something’s not working right. Try again later. Start over Alert Error Replace content after page title General error (500), version 1 This [tool, application, form] isn’t working right now We’re sorry. There’s a problem with [name]. Refresh this page or try again later.

[Add instructions for who to contact or how to remedy the problem.] N/A Alert Error After page title General error (500), version 2 We couldn’t complete your request We're sorry. [Name] isn’t working as expected. [Add instructions to remedy the problem or when to come back and try again.] N/A Alert Error After page title General error (500), version 3 We can’t access your [type of information] right now We’re sorry. There’s a problem with our system. Check back later.

[Add instructions to remedy the problem or when to come back and try again.] N/A Alert Error After affected component Application, claim, or form submission success We received your [application, claim, form]   N/A Alert Success After page title Application, claim, form submission failure, can save in progress Save this [application, claim, form] and try again We’re sorry. Your [application, claim, form] didn’t go through. We’re working to fix the problem, but it may take us a while. Save your [application, claim, form] and try again later. Save your [application, claim, form] Alert Error After page title Application, claim, or form submission failure, can’t save in progress Start over with this [application, claim, form] We’re sorry. Your [application, claim, form] didn’t go through and you’ll need to start over. We suggest you wait a day while we fix this problem. N/A Alert Error After page title Application, claim, or form submission in progress [Application, Claim, Form] submission started on [Month Day, Year] Your submission is in progress.

It can take up to 30 days for us to receive your [application, claim, form]. Your confirmation number is [number]. Check the status of your [application, claim, form] on My VA (primary action link) Alert Success After h1 on page summary Application, claim, or form submission in progress, alternate version Your [application, claim, form] is in progress. We last saved this [application, claim, form] on [Month Day, Year], at [timestamp] You can continue applying now or come back later to finish your application.
Your application will expire on [Month Day, Year], at [timestamp]. Continue your [application, claim, form] (primary button); Start a new application (secondary button) Alert Informational Replace affected component Required form field is empty N/A Enter your [required information] N/A Inline Error N/A Form field entry isn’t valid N/A Enter a valid [address, email address, phone number, city, state, etc.] N/A Inline Error N/A File upload success N/A We uploaded your file Dismissible Alert Success Before affected component File upload failure We couldn’t upload your file Try again later. Dismissible Alert Error Before affected component File download success N/A We downloaded your file Dismissible Alert Success Before affected component File download failure We couldn’t download your file Try again later. Dismissible Alert Error Before affected component Message sent N/A We sent your message Dismissible Alert Success Before affected component Message failed to send We couldn’t send your message Try again later. Dismissible Alert Error Before affected component Creation success N/A We created your file Dismissible Alert Success Before affected component Creation failure We couldn’t create your file Try again later. Dismissible Alert Error Before affected component Deletion success N/A We deleted your file Dismissible Alert Success Before affected component Deletion failure We couldn’t delete your file Try again later. Dismissible Alert Error Before affected component Update success N/A We updated your file Dismissible Alert Success Before affected component Update failure We couldn’t update your file Try again later. Dismissible Alert Error Before affected component
Last updated: Jul 02, 2026