L9: Writing Effective Web & Internet Content Flashcards
Which of the following is NOT a feature of findable content?
a. Optimized for search
b. Large headings
c. Appropriate terminology
b. Large Headings
What are the four content users want?
- Findable Content
- Legible/Accessible Content
- Readable Content
- Appropraite Content
What are some examples of “Findable Content”?
- Optimized for Search (SEO)
- Uses appropriate terminology
- User-centred navigation structure
- Well structured pages
What are some examples of “Legible Content”?
- Adequate contrast between text and background
- Appropriate font and size
- Optimal line length (50-75 characters) and spacing
What are some examples of “Readable Content”?
- Readability attempts to predict comprehension
- Shorter words are more common
- Shorter sentences are easier to understand
- Can be measured easily
What are some examples of “Appropriate Content”?
- Addresses users’ needs and goals
- Adequate detail
- Well-organized
- Appropriate voice and tone (authoritative or conversational; constructive; informative and so on)
- Content for online reading presented as HTML (pdf and other formats for printing)
- Factual (Interesting facts makes web pages for compelling)
What user want content guidelines:
- Use “you” - makes people feel more human
- Show that you are a person and that your organization includes people
- Write in the active voice - except for headings
- Write short, simple straightforward sentences
- Cut unnecessary words
- Give extra information its own place
- Keep paragraphs short
- Put the action in the verbs (active not passive)
- Use your web/intranet user’s words
What is the “inverted pyramid” writing style?
Start with a broad description at the top, increasing detail down the page.
Inverted pyramid approach implies that you should _____ detail down the page.
increase
Inverted pyramid guidelines:
- User clear, meaningful headings or lists at the beginning of a topic
- Create separate paragraphs or topics to emphasize important points
- Do not bury your main point in the middle of a paragraph or topic
Visual structure
Headings, short paragraphs and lists give pages visual structure.
• Use succinct text
• Include only one key idea per paragraph
• Use highlighted keyword or phrases
• Use bulleted lists when approprate
What distinguishes readability from legibility?
Readability is about the choice of words, legibility is about their appearance.
What is Legibility?
Presentation of text (mostly visual)
What is Readability?
Choice of words and structure of the text (Sentences and paragraphs.
T of F: Good legibility is prerequisite of good readability.
True
Legibility Rules:
- Good foreground/background contrast essential
- Serif fonts slightly better for legibility but need to be larger sizes on most displays
- Avoid excessive use of italics and CAPS
- Use underlining only for embedded hyperlinks
- Black text on white background seen as most professional
Progressive enhancement
Strategy for web design that emphasizes core webpage content first.
Describe the main factors that influence readability metrics.
The main factors that influence readability metrics is to ensure that the language is no more complex than it needs to be. It should be primarily based on word, sentence and paragraph lengths and it should not reflect how well readers will actually understand the text. The content should be written for a broad audience. And for the multinational audiences: latin abbreviations, colloquial expressions, and double negatives should be avoided.
Which of the following IS NOT a readability metric?
a. Flesh-Kincaid
b. Laurel-Hardy
c. Gunning-Fog
b. Laurel-Hardy
FRES
Flesch Reading Ease Score : Approximate range is 0 (very difficult to read) to 100 (very easy)
For adults, target should be 60-70
FKGL
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level : Adaptation of FRES to show US grade levels (grade 1 = 6 year old, grade 2 = 7 year old and so on)
