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Principles
1. Decide on who and why2. Get to know the text3. Put the best bit first4. Slash everything else5. Edit sentences6. Put "if" before "then"7. Demolish walls of words8. Launch and land on the same name9. Rest it then test it |
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7. Demolish walls of words. Solid blocks of text are intimidating. Break them up.
Use bulleted lists for items or choicesIf you have a selection of different items separated by commas then try writing them as a bulleted list. Use numbered lists for instructionsIf you want people to do things in a specific order, such as following instructions, then use a numbered list. Use visuals when they helpHere are some of the places where something visual may help:
Try to make sure that any visual element that you use is beautiful or useful. Use tables to organise repetitive text or dataThink of tables as a collection of 'if... then' sentences. Read the first column as the 'if' part of the sentence, and the other columns as the 'then' parts. We put an example just above. |
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Screen readers, used by blind people, can't 'see' the meaning of a table. Check that your table makes sense when it is read row-by-row across the table. Evaluating the usability of web photos shows how a checklist can help you to decide whether a photo is working for you. The idea of breaking up solid blocks of text has been around since journalists started using headlines in the 1870s.
chapter 11: Using lists and tables chapter 13: Using illustrations effectively |
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