Nordic NuanceA button needs to name the next step
A short button label can be easy to read and still leave an important question unanswered: what happens when I click?
Consider an English “Continue” button translated as “Fortsæt”. If it opens the next step of a form, that may be exactly right. If it submits the form, the same label tells the reader too little.
Illustrative examples; the correct choice depends on the interface
Next step: “Fortsæt”
Submit an application: “Send ansøgning”
Save changes: “Gem ændringer”
This is not a reason for a translator to silently redesign the product. If the source label and the action do not agree, raise the question with the product team. A polished translation cannot resolve an unclear decision on its own.
Review the action with the words
Useful context includes the preceding instruction, the next screen and whether the action can be reversed. A screenshot often answers questions that a spreadsheet row cannot.
Directness is a matter of choosing words that fit the action and the reader. Making a verb softer does not automatically make it clearer.
Ask: could someone predict the result of clicking this button before they click it?