Text formatted correctly and error-free reaches the widest audience
Formatting text
Body text is always left aligned, black and formatted as 'Paragraph'.
Guidance
- New pages in Spuiz are automatically formatted as 'Paragraph'
- Text size can only be changed for H2 headings and H3 sub headings
- Font is Verdana and cannot be changed
- When copying and pasting text from a Word document or web page, paste text into your page using Ctrl + C.
- Check text carefully for any formatting errors
- Use the brush button on the editing toolbar to remove text formatting
- The 'insert character' button on the editing toolbar can be used to add symbols such as copyright or registered trade mark characters
Reasons for these web standards
We use a style sheet on the website to create a consistent appearance for all pages that can be updated centrally.
Bold and capital letters
Avoid large blocks of bold text and do not use block capital letters.
Guidance
- Use bold for emphasis sparingly, one word or a few words at most, making it more effective.
- Bold should not be used for headings.
- Format using H2 for headings or H3 for sub headings.
- All text should be sentence case
- 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
- This is an accessibility standard to help people with dyslexia. By avoiding block capitals we are making the text easier for all to read.
Italics
Italics makes text appear to run together for people with dyslexia and visual impairments. It is also difficult to read on smaller screens (mobile, tablet, etc).
Spelling and grammar
Check spelling and grammar are correct.
Guidance
- Use a spell checker to check your document before you publish it
- Copy and paste the text from the Squiz 'Preview' of your web page into a Word document to use the spelling and grammar tool.
- The house style (available on s-net) document has useful guidance for grammar and English usage.