A small word choice that changed the mood of the whole app.

Recently, while working on a journal app with my colleague, we hit a small but important UX moment:
What do we call the action when a user wants to get rid of a journal entry?

Do we say "Delete" or "Remove"?
I told him, I personally prefer "Remove" in this context.

Here's why:
"Delete" just sounds... harsh. Serious. Final.
Like it's stored somewhere, and now you're erasing it forever.
It feels heavy. Too strong.

Especially for a journal app where people might've written emotional stuff, personal memories, private thoughts.
I don't want the app to make them feel like they're destroying something.
That word "Delete" feels a bit too mechanical.

"Remove," on the other hand, feels lighter.
Like: "Hey, it's gone from the list, but no drama."
It's softer. Less intimidating. Not as rude.

And yeah, it might sound small, but as a designer, I've learned that microcopy matters.
These little words shape how people feel.
Especially in apps that are personal.

So yeah, I went with "Remove."
Sometimes, good design is just choosing the gentler word.