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Re: Delete PDF tag vs. artifact?

for

From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Sep 15, 2017 8:40AM


Regarding punctuation in Alt-text, we discovered eons ago that many (if not all) screen reader technologies would run the Alt-text into the body text that follows if there wasn't punctuation at the end. Without it, there wasn't a clear audible change in the voicing to signal the user that Alt-text had ended.

Since those of us who create content have no idea which A.T. or personal settings will be used to access our I.C.T., it makes sense to put punctuation in our Alt-text, especially at the end, to ensure we're communicating as clearly as possible to our audiences.

It takes just a nanosecond to type a period at the end, and it does absolutely no harm to the document, only good.

Our policy is to always use correct grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation in our Alt-text. We aim to communicate ideas as best as possible to everyone in our audience, and eliminate potential confusion.

--Bevi Chagnon

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Bevi Chagnon | www.PubCom.com
Technologists, Consultants, Trainers, Designers, and Developers
for publishing & communication
| Acrobat PDF | Print | EPUBS | Sec. 508 Accessibility |
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>>> "Spealman, Jill" < <EMAIL REMOVED> > 04:45 PM Thursday,
September 14, 2017 >>>
Also...when writing alt-text is it preferable to include or exclude the period (stop) at the end of the sentence?

Thanks!