2 Links and Lists

Let’s Talk about Links and Lists

Be Sure To…

Always think about hyperlinks out of the context of the text. Does it make sense? Do you know where you are going before clicking the link? Treat hyperlink text like a digital street sign.

For lists, just make sure to use the list tool for any bulleted or numbered lists.

Criteria to Meet

  • URLs should hyperlink to meaningful and descriptive text
  • The phrase “click here” is not present in the descriptive text for hyperlinks
  • A note is present explaining how hyperlinks will open is available to learners
  • Links open properly
  • Lists should always use the bulleted or numbered list tool

A Little More about Links – Hyperlink Pitfalls

Updating hyperlinks is an easy step to making content accessible, but it is easy to make mistakes when writing descriptive hyperlink text.

  • When writing hyperlink text, would I know the link destination if I didn’t read the surrounding content?
    • If the answer is no, your text is not meaningful enough. Try to find ways to incorporate keywords for the site into the hyperlink text.
  • Another pitfall is writing too much text. While no specific word count is required, try to keep it short and simple.
  • The last pitfall to look out for is the “click here” phrasing. While many people are able to avoid that phrase, they sometimes substitute them instead of finding more meaningful text. Substitutions to avoid:
    • Learn More
    • Review the following
    • Select
    • Read More

Resources

License

Creating an Accessible Canvas Experience Copyright © by Vanessa Garza. All Rights Reserved.

Share This Book