Text formatted correctly and error-free reaches the widest audience.
Page contents
- Formatting text
- Bold and capital letters
- Italics
- Acronyms and jargon
- Dates, times, distances, money and special characters
- Spelling and grammar
Formatting text
Pages in Squiz are automatically formatted:
- as 'Paragraph'
- left aligned
- black
- Verdana font
- Text size can only be changed for H2 headings and H3 subheadings
- Use Ctrl + C to paste text from a Word document or a webpage and then right click on the text and select 'paste as plain text' from the drop down menu.
- Check for any formatting errors
Reasons for these web standards
To be consistent across all pages of the public website.
Bold and capital letters
Large blocks of bold text and block capital letters create a bad user experience.
- Use bold for emphasis sparingly, one word or a few words at most, making it more effective.
- Do not link bold text
- Format headings using H2 for headings or H3 for subheadings, not bold.
- Block capitals can only be used for acronyms, such as SCC
Example
Use bold text to emphasise a phrase within a sentence.
Reason for this web standard
Accessibility: helps people with dyslexia and makes text easier for all users to read.
Italics
Do not use Italics.
Reason for this web standard
Accessibility: Italics make text appear to run together, so they are difficult to read for people with dyslexia and visual impairments.
Acronyms and jargon
- Avoid using acronyms and jargon. If you do use acronyms, explain them in full in the first instance with the acronym in brackets.
- Use 'and' not '&''
- 'for example' not 'e.g'
- 'that is' and not 'i.e'
Reason for this web standard
Accessibility: reaches the widest audience
Dates, times, distances, money and special characters
| Issue | Summary |
|---|---|
| Dates | Write the dates as as for example: 3 April 2024, rather than by using '5th', or '2nd' or '3rd', or 03. |
| Distances | Write out distances in full, for example 2 metres rather than 2m. |
| Money | Write out money in full, for example £2,000, rather than £2k. |
| Special characters | You can add special characters such as accented letters, currency and symbols to page text |
| Times | Write time in a 12 hour format, for example: 10am, 10.30am,1pm, 1.30pm and if times are from and to, use the following format: 10am to 1pm. |
Spelling and grammar
- Check spelling and grammar are correct, by using a spell checker before you publish your page or file.
- Use the English spelling and not the American spelling of words.
- The house style document (available on Our Surrey) gives guidance on grammar and English usage.