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Writing for the Web#

Make your content scannable

The truth is, users don’t read Web pages; they scan them, looking for things they can read very quickly until they find a relevant piece of information.

What does this mean? Write pages the way people use them. Make them scannable.

Organize Content in an Inverted Pyramid#

Organize your content as an inverted pyramid; put the most important information at the top and less important information at the bottom.

Add Headings#

Look for opportunities to divide your content into sections and give each section a descriptive heading.

Write Concisely#

Keep your paragraphs short—no more than 3-4 lines of text. Look for opportunities to cut words, sentences, and even entire paragraphs if they do not contribute necessary content.

Write actively, not passively#

Always write using active voice. For example, say “we mailed your form” not “your form was mailed.”

Use Bulleted and Numbered Lists#

Use bulleted or numbered lists when appropriate.

Use hyperlinks and bolding to highlight important pieces of content, but be judicious—less is more.

When you do hyperlink content, make sure you link phrases that convey information about the destination Web page or file. Do not use “click here”—it conveys no information and is problematic for individuals using screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Office documents are generally not accessible for people with disabilities. It's better to create a new webpage with the content of the office document. More information about accessible Microsoft Word documents. More information about making Google documents accessible.

Avoid acronyms and jargon#

Don’t use acronyms and jargon. If you must use acronyms, spell out the words the first time you them on every Web page.