All YOUR base are belong to MY?

When designing a page, when should you use “my” (as in “My Password”) and when should you use “your” (as in “Your Account”)? I have been designing user interfaces for almost a decade already, but only today I realized how ignorant I was in reference to this, potentially, best practice. Anyway, after years of obscurantism on this, I think I finally have an answer:

“Me” or “My” should be used when a title of something (a page or a field) does not contain an action (a verb). It should also be used when a button, link, or title of a page contains a phrase that implies that the user is ordering the system to perform an action. For example:

• Field Title: My Company Name:
• Page Title: My Main Menu
• Button: [ Let Me Change My Password ]
• Link: Reset My Account

“Your” or “you” should be used when the system is telling or asking something from the user. For example:

• Field Title: What is your password?
• Message: You can always change your settings…
• Button: [ Post Your Project and Get Auditions from Talents ]
• Link: Please, click here to contact your agent
• Message: Your are signed in as:

Whenever you have the option of doing one or the other, I would suggest you use “My”. For example, if you have the option of using both “Post My Project” and “Post Your Project”, use “Post My Project”. Why? Because on “Post Your Project” the system is asking the user to do something, while in “Post My Project” the user is ordering the system to perform an action. I think that users like to feel they are in control.

Why bother? I think it facilitates the understanding of the system by the user. It also allows the user to feel ownership of the system by having a friendly and conversational experience. What do you think?

Oh! And don’t forget to say the magic word: “please”.

Alexander Torrenegra

PS. If you are wondering where I got the subject for this blog, here is a dose of videogame folklore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base_are_belong_to_us – The video can be seen clicking here.