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Re: Rethinking "Skip to Content"

for

From: Bob Easton
Date: Dec 6, 2004 4:49AM

intern.wincog wrote:
> Thanks to all who answered my questions about EX and EM.
>
> Now I'd like to share something I've been thinking about regarding screen
> readers and the "Skip to Main Content" (and its many variations) link. There
> was a discussion here recently about how, exactly, this should be phrased. I
> have a different idea on this, and would like some feedback.
>
> The word "skip", whether used to imply bypassing a specific something, or
> simply moving past a general something to something else, seems more
> confusing than helpful. ... remainder snipped

While you make logical points about the finer linguistic implications, I
would not seriously consider changing the common practice.

As the usabilty guru, Jakob Nielsen, remind us, we often find
"standards" evolving from widespread common practice. "Skip ..." is one
of those common practices. Those words have been the recommneded
approach for several years, are taught by dozens (if not hundreds) of
accessibility tutorials, and are embedded in the W3C's WAI and WCAG
initiatives.

I'm sure that many blind people, such as one of the respondents here,
can easily use either technique, the common practice is "Skip ..." and
we should stick with it simply because it has become a defacto standard.

--
Bob Easton