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Website Content Usability
riting for the web is - Use shorter words where
totally different to possible - ‘Begin' rather than
writing for printed ‘commence', ‘used to' rather
matter. We tend to scan content than ‘accustomed to' etc.
on the web hunting for the - Avoid complex sentence
information we're after, as structures - Try to include just
opposed to reading word-for-word. one idea or concept per sentence
As a result of this, there are - Use active ahead of passive
certain guidelines you should be words - ‘We won the award' is
sure to follow when writing copy shorter and easier to comprehend
for your website: than, ‘The award was won by us'
1. Use clear and simple language 2. Limit each paragraph to one
idea
Reading from computer screens is If you assign just one idea to
tiring for the eyes and about 25% each paragraph site visitors can:
slower than reading from printed
matter. As such, the easier the - Easily scan through each
style of writing the easier it is paragraph
for site visitors to absorb your - Get the general gist of what
words of wisdom. the paragraph is about
- Then move on to the next
Some techniques for using clear paragraph
and simple language include:
All this and without fear that
- Avoid slang or jargon - Get they'll be skipping over
your grandmother and ten year old important information, because
nephew to read your site - if they will already know roughly
both can understand the page what the paragraph is about.
content you've done well!
Limiting each paragraph to just opening paragraph on every page
one idea is especially effective should always contain the
when combined with front-loading conclusion of that page. This
paragraph content. way, site visitors can instantly
gain an understanding of what the
3. Front-load content page is about and decide whether
they want to read the page or
Front-loading content means not.
putting the conclusion first,
followed by the what, how, where, Unfortunately many websites don't
when and why. The first line of adhere to this guideline and end
each paragraph should contain the up writing page content in a
conclusion for that paragraph, so story-format. On each page
site visitors can: there's an introduction, middle
and conclusion, in that order.
Quickly scan through the opening Unfortunately, when scanning
sentence through web content we don't tend
Instantly understand what the to read all the text nor read all
paragraph is about the way to the bottom of the
Decide if they want to read the screen. As such, you may easily
rest of the paragraph or not miss the conclusion if it's left
Because each paragraph contains until the end.
just one idea, users can do all
this safe in the knowledge that So remember, conclusion first,
if they jump to the next everything else second! For a
paragraph they won't be missing great example of front-loaded
any new concepts. content, just read any newspaper
article. The opening paragraph is
Front-loading also applies to web always the conclusion of the
pages, as well as paragraphs. The article.
5. Bolden important words
4. Use descriptive sub-headings
Another way to help users locate
Breaking up text with descriptive information quickly and easily is
sub-headings allows site visitors to bolden important words in some
to easily see what each section paragraphs. When site visitors
of the page is about. The main scan through the screen this text
heading on the page provides a stands out to them, so do make
brief overall view of what page sure the text makes sense out of
is about, and the opening context.
paragraph gives a brief
conclusion of the page (because Bolden two to three words which
you've front-loaded the page describe the main point of the
content). Within the page though, paragraph, and not words on which
there are various sub-themes you're placing emphasis. By
which can be quickly put across seeing these boldened words site
with sub-headings. visitors can instantly gain an
understanding of what the
There's no hard and fast rule for paragraph is about and decide
how frequently to use whether or not they want to read
sub-headings, but you should it.
probably be roughly aiming for
one sub-heading every two to four 6. Use descriptive link text
paragraphs. More importantly
though, the sub-headings should In the same way that bold text
group on-page content into stands out to screen-scanning web
logical groups, to allow site users, so does link text. Link
visitors to easily access the text such as ‘click here' makes
information that they're after. no sense whatsoever out of
context so is useless to site
visitors scanning web pages. To When reading through justified
find out the destination of the text the spacing between each
link, site visitors have to hunt word is different so our eyes
through the text both before and have to search for the next word.
after the link text. This slows down our reading
speed. Right- and centre-aligned
7. Use lists paragraphs slow down reading
speed even more because each time
Lists are preferable to long you finish reading one line your
paragraphs because they: eye has to search for the
beginning of the next line.
- Allow users to read the
information vertically rather Conclusion
than horizontally
- Are easier to scan These eight guidelines are
- Are less intimidating nothing revolutionary nor are
- Are usually more succinct they difficult to implement. Yet
so many websites structure their
8. Left-align text content so poorly to the
detriment of their site visitors.
Left-aligned text is easier to Have a quick look over your
read than justified text, which website now - how does it do with
in turn is easier to read than regards to these content
centre- or right-aligned text. guidelines?
About the Author:
This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy ( Webcredible - http://www.webcredible.co.uk ) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone.
Read more articles by: Trenton Moss
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
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