Scannable content
Can you scan the page without having to pause for key points? Can you grasp the meaning of a section based on its heading only?
Why it’s important
- Mana reads most online content using his mobile device. He finds it difficult to navigate long paragraphs.
- Pauline has a cognitive disability, she finds it difficult to read long, uninterrupted passages of text.
Next steps
- Shorter sentences will get more emphasis for scanners and readers alike. Longer sentences can present obstacles to people who have difficulty reading. They can also be harder to skim on mobile devices.
- Keep your paragraphs short and focused. Short paragraphs, like short sentences, are easier to scan on mobile devices.
- Use headings with precise and descriptive titles. This will help readers grasp the main points of a piece without reading it in its entirety.
- Design content or forms into multiple steps to avoid immediately overwhelming the user.
- If content or forms do span multiple pages, provide progress indicators so the user understands how far they have progressed.
- Check the continuity between sections. Paragraphs that don’t have clear links from one to the next can cause difficulties for some readers.
References
Resources
- Writing clearer content that benefits accessibility expands Your audience(this link opens an external website)
- Scannability: Principle and Practice(this link opens an external website)
- Readability Test(this link opens an external website)