Summary: Technical error messages shouldn’t be rewritten like stories—they’re not meant to entertain. Their role is pure utility: convey a problem, clarify what caused it, and tell the user how to fix it. When a software or API throws an error like “Insufficient balance… please recharge your account,” rewriting it into a narrative only dilutes its meaning. Let’s break down what this kind of message really says, why it’s written the way it is, and what software providers and users should understand from it.
What the Message Actually Says
The message you’re referring to likely comes in JSON format—used all over the tech world for sending data between systems. If it says something like:
{
"error": "Insufficient balance",
"message": "You do not have enough credits to complete this action. Please recharge your account."
}
This isn’t storytelling material. It’s a functional, explicitly-engineered alert. It’s telling the application (or the developer, or the end-user) exactly what went wrong: there isn’t enough credit in the user’s account to run the request they just made.
Don’t Rewrite What Isn’t Broken
Now, people sometimes feel the urge to make these messages more “user-friendly”—to soften the tone, wrap it in extra words, or worse, turn it into a metaphor. That approach backfires. Why? Because clarity dies when you add fluff. In technical environments, ambiguity equals risk. The user, or the system calling the API, must react quickly and correctly. Giving them a fluffy anecdote instead of a straight alert is like using a riddle as a fire alarm.
Why This Isn’t a Story
There’s no narrative arc here—no conflict, character development, or climax. This isn’t literature. It’s instrumentation. It’s like a red light on your dashboard that says “Oil Pressure Low.” Nobody wants it rewritten to sound like: “Once upon a time, your engine didn’t receive the attention it deserved…”
Instead, the message needs to remain exactly what it is: fast, direct, and actionable. Trying to wrap it in a story disrespects the context and distracts from the solution. The value comes from precision, not from creative prose.
Think Function: What Should the Error Trigger?
When a user sees “Insufficient Balance,” logical next steps should be clear:
- The user should understand the request they attempted cannot be completed with their current balance.
- The interface should allow them to check their balance details.
- There should be a visible way to recharge or top up.
The goal is resolution, not entertainment.
The Psychology Behind Error Messages
Let’s apply Robert Cialdini’s principles for a moment. When you provide value—even in error handling—you build trust. An error message that communicates with clarity gives the user the feeling that the system is predictable and stable. That’s Reciprocity at work. If your system does its job reliably, users feel more inclined to stick around and cooperate.
Commitment and Consistency come into play too. If your brand or product has been reliable so far, a clear and polite message reinforces that identity. On the other hand, if your alert suddenly shifts tone into some whimsical metaphor, it throws people off. They’ll trust the system less—not more.
What’s the Best Practice?
- Keep messages short. Say what the problem is.
- Explain what the user needs to do.
- Avoid tech jargon, but don’t water things down either.
- Don’t apologize for doing your job. State facts. Offer solutions.
The most reliable software systems in the market—Stripe, GitHub, AWS—all follow this template. Their error messages are brutally clear. You either fix the issue and move forward, or you don’t. They trust the user to be sharp and competent, not someone who needs sugarcoating.
Let the Message Speak for Itself
That original message—“Insufficient balance, please recharge”—says everything it should. You don’t need to gut it, add personality, or make it part of your brand’s “voice.” Let it be. It’s not the spokesperson; it’s the smoke alarm. It’s there to inform, not entertain. Do you really want to rewrite your smoke alarm to say, “It appears that an unpredictable thermal anomaly has occurred on the stovetop…”?
Users, developers, and marketers alike should resist the urge to tamper with raw error signaling. Keep your brand voice for your onboarding emails and promos. When it comes to system alerts, go with the old rule: be brief, be bright, be gone.
Closing Thought: When a machine tells you what’s wrong, listen to it. Don’t ask it to be Hemingway. If your tools speak with directness, your users will thank you by staying—and paying.
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Featured Image courtesy of Unsplash and Ilya Semenov (6uFROinaC3g)
