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Cornell University

Web Accessibility Reviews

All Guidelines

15

Wherever text appearance (i.e., bold, italics, underline, size) is used to convey information, that information must also be presented in text alone.

WGAC 2 criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A)
Category Structure

WCAG 2 criterion

1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)

Tools and requirements

  • Siteimprove (policy)

Test procedure

This test is strictly concerned with emphasized text which is used to describe some important detail. Most assistive technologies do not distinguish emphasized text from non-emphasized text to the user. Examples of this are using bold or italic text to denote a new addition to a list of items, or using bold text to indicate a mandatory step in a process.

  • For each case of underlined text
    • Refer to Guideline 17.
  • For situations where only color is used for emphasis
    • Refer to Guideline 31.
  • For each case of bold or italic text
    • Ensure that the use of bold or italics does not imply a special meaning.
      • If it does imply a special meaning, ensure that the meaning is explicitly provided in text.
BAD example for "ensuring the meaning is explicitly provided in text" Packing list for summer camp (important items are in bold): Sunscreen Swim Suit Five changes of Clothes Sleeping Bag or other bedding Books Flashlight Camera Medications GOOD example for "ensuring the meaning is explicitly provided in text" Packing list for summer camp (important items are emphasized): Sunscreen (important) Swim Suit (important) Five changes of Clothes (important) Sleeping Bag or other bedding (important) Books Flashlight Camera Medications (important)