Anti-Patterns

What to avoid in error states, based on what successful systems don't do.

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Delivery Anti-Patterns
Tone Anti-Patterns
Recovery Anti-Patterns
Microcopy Anti-Patterns
Summary: What Zero Systems Do

Introduction

Anti-patterns are approaches that fewer than 2 of 10 systems use—often for good reason. Each includes frequency data, why it fails, and what to do instead.

Category	Anti-Patterns
Delivery	4 anti-patterns
Tone	4 anti-patterns
Recovery	3 anti-patterns
Microcopy

Error Type	Should Have Recovery	Often Missing
Network	Retry button	55% lack it
Permission	Request access	40% lack it
404	Go home / Search	30% lack it

Error State Mistakes: What Enterprise Apps Avoid | Northbase

Anti-Patterns

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Anti-Patterns

Have questions about Error States?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Delivery Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern 2: Toast for User-Initiated Actions

Anti-Pattern 3: Blocking UI for Network Errors

Anti-Pattern 4: Hidden Error States

Tone Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern 5: Apologetic Tone for Validation Errors

Anti-Pattern 6: Encouraging Tone for Errors

Anti-Pattern 7: Blaming the User

Anti-Pattern 8: Technical Jargon for Non-Technical Users

Recovery Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern 9: No Recovery for Recoverable Errors

Anti-Pattern 10: Only Destructive Recovery Options

Anti-Pattern 11: Auto-Dismiss Before Reading

Anti-Patterns

Have questions about Error States?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Anti-Patterns

Have questions about Error States?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Delivery Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern 1: Modal for Form Validation

Anti-Pattern 2: Toast for User-Initiated Actions

Anti-Pattern 3: Blocking UI for Network Errors

Anti-Pattern 4: Hidden Error States

Tone Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern 5: Apologetic Tone for Validation Errors

Anti-Pattern 6: Encouraging Tone for Errors

Anti-Pattern 7: Blaming the User

Anti-Pattern 8: Technical Jargon for Non-Technical Users

Recovery Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern 9: No Recovery for Recoverable Errors

Anti-Pattern 10: Only Destructive Recovery Options

Anti-Pattern 11: Auto-Dismiss Before Reading