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Lesson 4-A

The document provides tips for effective web writing, emphasizing the importance of short paragraphs, clear headings, and the use of lists for better readability. It advises using active verbs and concise language to maintain reader interest, while also highlighting the significance of meaningful link text. Overall, the focus is on creating a user-friendly and engaging web experience through thoughtful text formatting and content structure.

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gulnoorshah891
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5 views2 pages

Lesson 4-A

The document provides tips for effective web writing, emphasizing the importance of short paragraphs, clear headings, and the use of lists for better readability. It advises using active verbs and concise language to maintain reader interest, while also highlighting the significance of meaningful link text. Overall, the focus is on creating a user-friendly and engaging web experience through thoughtful text formatting and content structure.

Uploaded by

gulnoorshah891
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tips for Writing for the Web

Text Formatting

Short Paragraphs > A 100-word paragraph looks pretty long on a Web page. Long paragraphs
send a signal to the reader: This will require effort. The writer expected you to have a lot of spare
time. Sit down and read awhile. Short paragraphs send a different message: I'm easy! This won't
take long at all! Read me!

Headings > The heading at the top of the page should make absolutely clear what the page
contains or concerns. The text under the heading must not repeat the heading information (see
redundancy, below right).

Subheadings > If the page text exceeds 300 words, subheadings will help the reader scan the
page efficiently and happily.

Boldface > Depending on the content, words or phrases in boldface can help readers find what
they want. Combining boldface and subheadings could lead to visual noise, so do not overdo it.
Combining links and boldface text in the same paragraph could have the same unsightly result.

Lists > Numbered, bulleted or other indented lists help the reader make sense of the information
on the page. In many print contexts, lists would look ugly and thus are not used. On Web pages,
lists work well in almost all contexts. Like paragraphs, lists appeal more to the reader when they are
short.

Text Content

Brevity > Write tight. Omit all unnecessary words.*

Sentence Structure > Be straightforward. While a meandering introductory clause may seem
like a good idea to you, the reader might stop reading -- before she gets to the heart of your
sentence.

Active Verbs > It is easy to write with passive verbs (am, is, are, has, have). Using active verbs
makes the writer work harder -- but the reader benefits. The writer also benefits, because the
reader stays interested. Passive verbs bore readers. Bored readers leave.

Say What You Mean > Try saying it out loud before you write it. We tend to speak more
directly than we write. We get to the point more quickly, too, when we can see the listener's eyes
glazing over.

Redundancy > Reading the same information twice wastes a person's time
Links

What They Say > Link text should not break any of the rules given for text (at left). A link must
give the reader a reasonable expectation of what she will get when she clicks. Linked phrases such
as "click here" or "Web page" do not provide helpful information.

What They Do > A link that does not open something or take the user to a new Web page seems
to be a broken link. When the link will take the user to a different place on the same page, or open
a media player, give the user a cue.

How They Look > A long phrase (more than about five words) can be hard to read, or just ugly,
when underlined and/or in a highlight color. Links that are not underlined and do not appear in a
different color from the surrounding text are almost impossible for the users to see.

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