Plain Language
Readability
Additional Resources
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Concise writing cheat sheet
Source: 4 Syllable
Writing concisely can improve readability, and save reading time.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Designing scannable content
Source: 4 Syllable
Design content that is easy to scan will encourage users to stay.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Everyday words cheat sheet
Source: 4 Syllable
To make content fast and easy to read and understand, use short, everyday words. Here’s a list of words to avoid and alternatives to try in their place.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
F-Shape Pattern And How Users Read
Source: Smashing Magazine
Scrolling, scanning, skipping: How do users consume content online? Here’s what you need to know about reading behavior and design strategies to prevent harmful scanning patterns.
Categories: Resources, User Experience & Usability Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
F-Shaped Pattern of Reading on the Web: Misunderstood, But Still Relevant (Even on Mobile)
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Eyetracking research shows that people scan webpages and phone screens in various patterns, one of them being the shape of the letter F. Eleven years after discovering this pattern, we revisit what it means today.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
How People Read Online: New and Old Findings
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Looking back at findings from a series of eyetracking studies over 13 years, we see that fundamental scanning behaviors remain constant, even as designs change.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
How to Write in the Inverted Pyramid Style
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Start content with the most important piece of information so readers can get the main point, regardless of how much they read.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Inverted Pyramid: Writing for Comprehension
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Start content with the most important piece of information so readers can get the main point, regardless of how much they read.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Making content findable
Source: 4 Syllable
The following tips apply to web pages or documents to make information findable.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Page titles
Source: 4 Syllable
Users rely heavily on page titles. Use these tips to get the titles right.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Plain Language For Everyone, Even Experts
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Even highly educated readers crave succinct information that is easy to scan, just like everyone else
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Professionals want clear, concise information devoid of unnecessary jargon or complex terms. Plain language benefits both consumers and organizations.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Text Scanning Patterns: Eyetracking Evidence
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Eyetracking research shows that there are 4 main patterns that people use to scan textual information on webpages: F-pattern, spotted pattern, layer-cake pattern, and commitment pattern.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Text/Typographical Layout
Source: WebAIM
Text Alignment, Margins, Padding, and White Spacing, Line Length, and Text Decorations
Categories: Accessibility Resources, Resources, User Experience & Usability Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
The Biggest Mistake in Writing for the Web
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Before you write any content for the web, you should clearly define who will read it, what the reader’s goals are, and what impact you want your content to have on the reader.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
The Layer-Cake Pattern of Scanning Content on the Web
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
When headings and subheadings visually stand out on the page and are descriptive, users engage in an efficient scanning pattern that allows them to quickly find the information that they need.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
The Top 10 Web Design Mistakes of 1999
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
New technology and conventions have led to several new classes of usability problems in Web design. Consider reading these sections, Breaking or Slowing Down the Back Button, Opening New Browser Windows, and Headlines That Make No Sense Out of Context.
Categories: Accessibility Resources, Resources, User Experience & Usability Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Writing Digital Copy for Specialists vs. General Audiences
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Research shows that all people prefer web content that is digestible, but domain experts have shared knowledge that changes the rules of plain language.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Writing for Web Accessibility
Source: W3C: Web Accessibility Initiative
This page introduces some basic considerations to help you get started writing web content that is more accessible to people with disabilities.
Categories: Accessibility Resources, Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Writing headings
Source: 4 Syllable
Good headings help users quickly understand what’s on the page and it makes content look more inviting and scannable.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Writing links
Source: 4 Syllable
Meaningful links make your content more scannable, accessible and help improve search engine rankings.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Writing lists
Source: 4 Syllable
Lists help break up walls of text, and are useful for highlighting important information.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Writing paragraphs
Source: 4 Syllable
10 tips for web writers to make content easy on the eye, let users see what’s available, and allow them to skip to the most relevant part of the content.
Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources -
Writing readable content
Source:Categories: Resources, Writing for the Web Resources