Descriptive links
- check that links work properly and the URL is correct
- link text should make sense when taken out of context, don't use 'click here' or 'more...'
Find out more about descriptive links
Lists
- check that you have at least two items to put into the list
- make sure that bullet points haven’t been capitalised
- check that there are no full stops, commas or semicolons at the end of each line
Find out how to use bullet points to make content easier to read
Tables
- tables should have a heading row
- they should contain tabular data only
- make sure there are at least 2 columns
Accessibility guidance for tables
Contact details
- email addresses should be written in full
- if email addresses and phone numbers are displayed on their own, put 'Email:' or 'Phone:' in front
Abbreviations and jargon
- make sure abbreviations are explained once on the page before being used
- remove unnecessary jargon
Guidance for explaining technical terms and using abbreviations
Writing about Sutton Council
- make sure we refer to ourselves as ‘Sutton Council’
- ‘Council’ is always capitalised and singular
- check that the content refers to the council as ‘we’ or ‘us’
Spelling
- make sure you check spelling and grammar for each page
Reading age
- use Hemingway editor to check you've got as close as possible to 9 year old reading age
- sense-check your content - perhaps ask a colleague to proof read it for you
Learn more about how people read online
Tone
- be concise
- use the active voice - ‘You can download this guide as a PDF’ instead of a passive tone such as ‘This document has also been produced in a PDF’
- address the user as 'you'
- use contractions such as 'don't' (rather than 'do not')
- write in plain English