Overview
Overview
Dense, cluttered writing deters people from taking the time to read. Website content from federal agencies should help people:
- Get information.
- Follow requirements.
- Apply for benefits with the least possible burden.
Designing for reading is an important part of developing effective communications. Legible and well-organized writing is easier to understand than more traditional styles. Whether you are writing for the web or within the limits of publishing in the Code of Federal Regulations, use design elements to help users read and understand your information. In particular:
- Create logically structured pages with key information at the top.
- Use heading levels consistently and appropriately to create hierarchy.
- Write heading terms that are clear and descriptive.
- Use lists for easy scanning.
- Where appropriate, use tables to make complex relationships clear.
Highlight important concepts
While you want your writing to be concise and clear, adding useful headings and lists, as well as tables and visuals, can help emphasize important information in your writing. Using bold and italics can also highlight details within a particular section. Underlining will draw the user's attention to the section, but it may be confusing. When reading online, people expect underlined text to be a link. It’s better to format text with bold and italics for important issues.
PUTTING EVERYTHING IN CAPITAL LETTERS IS NOT A GOOD EMPHASIS TECHNIQUE. ALTHOUGH IT MAY DRAW THE USER’S ATTENTION TO THE SECTION, IT MAKES IT HARDER TO READ. AND ONLINE, IT’S CONSIDERED SHOUTING AND CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THE INTENT OF THE WRITING.
While it is difficult to use visual emphasis in regulations, it helps bring out important information in other writing. Only emphasize important information, otherwise you’ll dilute its impact.
Accessibility
Many of the concepts covered in this guide, such as lists and tables, must be carefully designed to support readers with disabilities. See Accessibility for Teams for more information on creating accessible experiences.
