Using Clear Language & Design

What is clear language and design?

Anyone can feel frustrated by confusing language or cluttered design. But for some users, these barriers make it especially hard — or even impossible — to use a website. This can include:

• People who are not confident using computers
• People who are non-native English speakers
• People who rely on assistive technology to access the web
• People with cognitive or learning disabilities

When we use clear language and thoughtful design, it’s easier for everyone to understand information and successfully complete their tasks. Before creating any content, ask yourself:

• Who needs this information?
• What task are they trying to complete?
• What instructions will help them succeed?
• What information can wait until later?

Let these answers guide how you write and design webpages or documents.

How can we improve our web design?

Great websites feel natural to use. They anticipate what people need and create clear pathways to help users complete key tasks quickly and confidently.

• Use simple, consistent templates. Make it easy for users to focus on the content — not the layout. Keep key elements, such as a search bar, in the same spot on every page. The web development team does this for you on the university website.
• Simplify navigation. Limit main menu items to no more than seven, reflecting the top user priorities. Consistent menus help users recognize patterns and save time. 
• Don't rely on the navigation menu. Although menus are very helpful, be sure to link to other pages within the content of your page so that users can click on relevant links while reading.
• Design for scrolling. Users prefer scrolling to endless clicking. Consider using accordions to organize longer pages — they keep information accessible without overwhelming the viewer.

How can we improve our web writing?

Good web writing is like a successful conversation with a busy person: You want to make a connection, answer their questions and then let them get to it. 

• Identify your audience. Write directly to the people you need to reach. Use clear, conversational language and avoid jargon or unexplained acronyms.
• Get to the point. Put the most important information first. Use headings, bullets, and white space to make scanning easy.
• Keep it simple. Use short paragraphs (about 70 words or fewer) and vary sentence length. Aim for an 8th-grade reading level so your content is accessible to the widest audience.

More info

• Review UMass Dartmouth's guidelines on how to accessibly use text formatting — including underlining, capitalization, asterisks, bold, italics, bullets and numbered lists. 
• Learn how to keep your web writing concise and helpful to our users.