Chapter 5: Color & Links

Descriptive Links

Main point

Instead of copying and pasting the entire link into Pressbooks, make a descriptive hyperlink.

The most important rule about descriptive hyperlinks: Avoid using “click here” as the title. Assistive technologies, like a screen reader, will generate a list of links on a page and present them in a list format for the user so they can navigate quickly through a document or webpage. So, make sure to use meaningful language to describe where the link will take the user or what action will happen upon selecting the link. Keep the link text concise – avoid making a whole sentence a link.

• If the link takes a user to a document or video, alert users to that by adding a notification like (PDF) or (Video) after the link.
• If a link opens in a new tab or window, Pressbooks will automatically indicate that with a double-rectangle symbol.

Exception: If a URL is included as part of a reference, like a DOI link – leave the full URL as-is.

WCAG Success Criteria

• 2.4.4 — Link Purpose (In Context) [Level A]: The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with its programmatically determined link context, except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general.
• 2.4.9 — Link Purpose (Link Only) [Level AAA]: A mechanism is available to allow the purpose of each link to be identified from link text alone, except where the purpose of the link would be ambiguous to users in general.

How-to

Word

1. After copying the link you want (including the http: section), select the text you want to become a link in your Word document.
2. Right select the text to open up the text options or open the Insert tab and select the option for “Link.”
   

   

   
3. Paste the URL into the address bar and select “OK.”

Pressbooks

1. In the Visual editor, select the text you want to be a link.
2. Then select the tool for “Insert/edit link.” You will then be able to paste your URL.
   

   

3. Select the gear icon to see more options, like the ability to edit the link text along with the URL and choose whether it should open in a new window. You can also use this feature to link to existing content within your book.

Resources

Edit Content with the Visual and Code Editors — Pressbooks User Guide

Create accessible links in Word — Microsoft Support (video)

Color accessibility

Main point

Avoid using color only to convey important information. Instead, be sure to mark or label the text to make sure it stands out. Have your text say, “Important note” and make it red, instead of just having the words “Note” in red. You could also consider putting important information in a textbox if you want to give an extra visual cue to users.

The second important thing to know about color accessibility is that when you do use color, ensure that there is good color contrast between the text and background for readability.

• For normal size text, the contrast ratio must be at least 4.5:1.
• For large text, the contrast ratio must be at least 3:1. (Large text is defined as 14 point [typically 18.66px] and bold or larger, or 18 point [typically 24px] or larger.)
• For non–text elements (and more specifically, their borders), the contrast ratio must also be 3:1.^[1]

A note about font types: Try to use simple font types when possible! Some are more reader-friendly than others. Pressbooks has a number of font options, so be sure to choose wisely. Learn more about font types:

• WebAIM: Typefaces and Fonts
• Understanding Accessible Fonts and Typography — Section508.gov

WCAG Success Criteria

• 1.4.1 — Use of Color [Level A]: Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
• 1.4.3 — Contrast (Minimum) [Level AA]: The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.

How-to

Within Pressbooks, you can make individual pieces of text a specific color, as well as change the appearance of the entire book or textboxes. As you are selecting colors, check the color contrast ratio before publishing. We recommend using WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to assist in this process.

Resources

Appearance — Pressbooks User Guide

Customize Your Textbox Colors — Pressbooks User Guide

Change your Pressbooks theme — Pressbooks User Guide

Use accessible font format and color — Microsoft Support