RE: seeking advice on the best way to phrase an error message

["technical writing plus" <doc-x -at- earthlink -dot- net>]

Not really liking it when places strongly require for me to give my phone
number, or when they ask politely and then when I am not immediately helpful
in filling in field, they cancel the whole form out or won't let me
continue. I wish that people who set up this kind of stuff would realize
that not everyone in the world is hunky-dory with giving out all kinds of
personal info on the Web. 

Now, as to the question. Short, simple and direct is the best method, I
believe. Something like 'Phone number required' or 'Phone number required to
proceed' would be good. 

-----Original Message-----
I'm trying to find the best way to phrase a specific error message in a
common situation.  Basically, the application has a form that the user needs
to enter, and let's say he or she leaves a field empty - in this case, it's
Phone Number.  

I've read up quite a bit on error messages, and know not to use an
accusatory tone, to keep them concise, to explain the error and how to
recover from it.  But it seems to me that this very common situation, where
a user leaves a field empty, someone must have already come up with the
perfect error message.  

Current error message in the app I'm working in is:  "Phone Number is
required and must have a value."  It's not the worst way to say it,
especially for a system generated error message, but I'm wondering if there
is a better way.  

Here's what Amazon said in a similar situation:
"Important Messages
      
There is a slight problem with your order. (See below.)

        

      
You didn't enter a phone number. Please enter your full phone number below."

This isn't bad, but it's very wordy.  Also, though the words "slight
problem" aren't so bad, "You didn't enter a phone number" is a little
blamey.  


I was going to suggest "Phone Number is required.  Please enter a Phone
Number."   Not the most concise thing in the world, but polite, explains the
error and what to do about it.  

But I was wondering if the group has any better advice...

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