Chapter 14. Editorial Style

Universal usability demands an operable interface and accessible content. But for a Web site to be truly useful to all, it requires accessible language. Information must be presented in a manner that is usable and understandable.

Online readers approach Web text with specific methods and objectives. Some users skim a page to form an overview of the available information and options; others skim a page in search of specific information. Some read the information presented on the page, while others print Web pages and read them offline.

Web documents can be structured to support skimming in a number of ways. First, skimming works best when information is broken into segments. A single topic can be broken across several ...

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