Text formatted correctly and error-free reaches the widest audience.
Page contents
- Formatting text
- Bold and capital letters
- Italics
- Acronyms and jargon
- Dates, times, distances, money and special characters
- Spelling and grammar
Formatting text
Text in webpages is automatically formatted:
- as 'Paragraph'
- left aligned (do not change justification settings)
- Text size can only be changed for H2 headings and H3 subheadings
- Use Ctrl + C to paste text from a Word document or an email or other source, and then paste it into Notepad. Then copy and paste the plain text in Notepad into the web page.
- Check for any formatting errors
Reasons for these web standards
To be consistent across all pages of the public website.
Bold and capital letters
Large blocks of bold text and block capital letters create a bad user experience.
- Use bold for emphasis sparingly, one word or a few words at most, making it more effective.
- Do not link bold text
- Format headings using H2 for headings or H3 for subheadings, not bold.
- Block capitals can only be used for acronyms or initialisms, such as Adult Social Care (ASC)
Example
Use bold text to emphasise a phrase within a sentence.
Reason for this web standard
Accessibility: makes text easier for all users to read, particularly people with dyslexia.
Italics
Do not use Italics.
Reason for this web standard
Accessibility: Italics can make text difficult to read for people with dyslexia and visual impairments.
Acronyms and jargon
- Avoid using acronyms and jargon. If you do use acronyms, explain them in full in the first instance with the acronym in brackets, for example: Community recycling centre (CRC)
- Use 'and' not '&''
- 'for example' not 'e.g'
- 'that is' and not 'i.e'
Reason for this web standard
Accessibility: reaches the widest audience.
Dates, times, distances, money and special characters
| Issue | Summary |
|---|---|
| Dates | Write dates as 3 April 2024, rather than using '5th', or '2nd' or '3rd', or 03. |
| Distances | Write out distances in full, for example 2 metres rather than 2m. |
| Money | Write out money in full, for example £2,000, rather than £2k. |
| Special characters | You can add special characters such as accented letters (such as café) and currency (£,$, €) to page text. |
| Times | Write time in a 12-hour format, for example: 10am, 10.30am,1pm, 1.30pm. If times are from and to, use the following format: 10am to 1pm. |
Spelling and grammar
- Check spelling and grammar are correct before you publish your page or file. Ask a colleague to proofread a page for you.
- Use the English spelling and not the American spelling of words.
- The house style page (available on Our ßÙßÇÂþ») gives guidance on grammar and English usage.