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Re: WCAG 2 draft and abbreviations

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From: Loretta Guarino Reid
Date: May 31, 2007 12:00PM

Hi, Jared,

On 5/31/07, Jared Smith < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> On 5/31/07, Loretta Guarino Reid < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> > I just wanted to clarify that WCAG 2.0 does not say that if you use
> > abbr, you should expand all occurrences.
>
> > See the sufficient techniques
> > section of "Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.4 (Abbreviations)":
> >http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20-20070517/#meaning-located
>
> That's the page I was referring to. It indicates that for the first
> occurrence of an abbreviation, I can do one of:
> 1. Provide the abbreviation after the expanded form
> 2. Link to a definition
> 3. Use abbr or acronym
>
> For all occurrences of an abbreviation, I can use one of:
> 1. Link to the definition (I would argue that one link to the
> definition would typically be better than 20 links in the same page to
> the same definition)
> 2. Provide a glossary using the link element
> 3. Provide a function to search an on-line dictionary (many or perhaps
> most abbreviations will not be found in a dictionary)
> 4. Use a dictionary cascade (I have no idea what this is)
> 5. Use abbr or acronym
>
> Doesn't this mean that if I use abbr alone, I must expand every
> occurrence? Or am I misinterpreting something?


If the abbrevation only has one meaning in the Web page (Situation A),
then you can satisfy WCAG 2.0 either by just providing the
abbreviation expansion for the first occurrence, or providing it for
all occurrences. (Providing it for the first occurrence and some other
occurrences, as suggested in this thread, would also be ok.)

Regards,
Loretta