WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Use of abbr for the scientiifc equivalent of a vernacular name

for

From: Peter Weil
Date: Apr 30, 2008 11:50AM

On Apr 30, 2008, at 7:02 AM, Andy Mabbett wrote:
>
> Can anyone see any accessibility issues with this pattern:
>
> <abbr title="Passer domesticus">House Sparrow</abbr>
>
> I suspect the former, but would like confirmation; or otherwise,
> preferably.
>
> Perhaps we need a <pseudonym> element? ;-)

"House Sparrow" is not an abbreviation. I wouldn't use the <abbr> tag
here just because it has a title attribute. In a case like this, I
would include the Latin text in the main text for all to see or hear
-- why hide it inside a tag (and the wrong tag, at that)? Few users
are going to see it there; those who hear only the expansion are
likely to be confused.

--
Peter Weil, Web Developer
University Communications
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Phone: 608-262-6538
Email: <EMAIL REMOVED>