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Re: HTML heading styles

for

From: Bob Easton
Date: Oct 19, 2004 5:53AM

martin wrote:
> I have a quick question about HTML heading styles.
>
> Now, we all understand that it's important to use heading styles to give
> structure to documents and enable screen-reader users to navigate a page.
>
> A strict reading of WAI guidelines is that heading styles must be used in
> strict sequence ie. H1, H2, H3, H4, H5.
> However, not all pages lend themselves to this; on some pages it is
> appropriate to move, for example from H1 to H2 to H4.
>
> My question to the group is whether this is a problem in terms of
> accessibility ?
> My feeling is that this approach enables us to use headings consistently so
> that a particular heading level always corresponds to the same type of
> information.
>

Thinking in terms of structure (a document outline if you please), is it
the case that the material that would normally be designated h3 is
actually missing and we fall into h4 level material? Or, is it the
case that a certain header appearance is wanted?

If it is only for appearance, then use CSS to apply the appropriate
appearance. Never mangle the document structure for sake of appearance.

It it actually is a missing leayer of information (difficult to image),
then mark the material appropriately even if it skips a level. The
person who cannot see the content might have come to a sense of it from
surrounding content and would appreciate the h4 level material not
jumping up a level. (assuming it's easy enough to differentiate the levels)

--
Bob Easton