Length Expansion Stress Test
Stress-test key screens for text expansion and identify where UI breaks with longer translations.
Prompt
Run a length-expansion stress test for this UI.
Context:
- Product/feature: [name]
- Key screens/components: [list]
- Target expansion factor: [30% / 50% / 70%]
- Target locales: [list]
Inputs:
[Paste UI copy, screenshots/links, and component constraints]
Provide:
1. High-Risk Strings
- Strings most likely to expand significantly
- Strings with variables/placeholders that can expand unpredictably
2. Breakpoints & Failure Modes
For each screen/component, identify:
- Where truncation will occur
- Where wrapping will create layout shifts
- Where buttons/inputs/nav items will overflow
- Where table columns/cards will break
3. Recommended Fixes
- Copy alternatives (shorter phrasing, remove redundancy)
- Layout fixes (wrap rules, flexible widths, max-widths, responsive stacking)
- Component fixes (icon-only variants, adaptive labels, overflow menus)
- When truncation is acceptable vs not (and tooltip/expand patterns)
4. Test Cases
- A checklist of “strings to test” + “screens to verify”
- Suggested pseudo-localized examples (optional)
Format as a screen-by-screen punch list with recommended fixes.How to use
- 1Replace [name], [list], [30% / 50% / 70%], and [list] with your specific details
- 2Gather your UI materials: Collect UI copy, screenshots, and component constraints for key screens
- 3Replace [Paste UI copy, screenshots/links, and component constraints] with your materials. If you have screenshots, upload them
- 4Add context before the prompt: Describe your product and expansion factor. Example: "Product: Dashboard. Key screens: Header, Sidebar, Main content. Expansion factor: 50%. Target locales: German, Spanish."
- 5Paste the modified prompt into your preferred AI tool, like ChatGPT or Claude (preferably with vision if using screenshots)
- 6Review the stress test results: Check high-risk strings, breakpoints, and failure modes
- 7Apply recommended fixes: Use the suggested copy alternatives, layout fixes, and component fixes
- 8Create test checklist: Use the test cases checklist to verify fixes in actual translations
- 9Export to tracking tool: Copy the screen-by-screen punch list to your project management tool
Pro Tips
- • Specify expansion factor: Mention "50% expansion" (typical for German) or "30% expansion" (conservative) based on your target languages
- • Include key screens: Focus on most important screens (checkout, onboarding, main flows) for targeted stress testing
- • Request pseudo-localization: Ask "Suggest pseudo-localized examples" to test with mock translations
- • For long strings: Pay special attention to strings with variables/placeholders as they can expand unpredictably
- • Combine with i18n audit: Use this stress test alongside the i18n readiness audit for comprehensive localization coverage
