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Thread: How to write alt-text when the image doesn't match text.
Number of posts in this thread: 3 (In chronological order)
From: Anita Y Tsuchiya
Date: Thu, Nov 29 2018 2:34PM
Subject: How to write alt-text when the image doesn't match text.
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If an image/table doesn't match the written text, do you "correct" the
error by describing the image correctly? Or do you explain the
discrepancy between the text and image/table. If so, how would you
indicate this in the long alt-text description?
Here is a hypothetical example of a long alt-text description:
    Text: The map shows three regions of temperate rain forest located
along the West Coast of the United States.
    Figure 1 shows map indicating two major examples of temperate rain
forest: Northern California, Southern Washington.
Thanks all!
From: Swift, Daniel P.
Date: Fri, Nov 30 2018 5:50AM
Subject: Re: How to write alt-text when the image doesn't match text.
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Personally, I'd take the discrepancy back to the originator and ask them to correct it and then create the alt text to match the image.
Dan Swift
Senior Web Specialist
Enterprise Services
West Chester University
610.738.0589
From: Mark Magennis
Date: Fri, Nov 30 2018 8:47AM
Subject: Re: How to write alt-text when the image doesn't match text.
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I agree with Dan that this is an error that you should alert your content team to, but I'd also ask you to check whether your text is appropriate.
Leaving aside the fact that what is written in the text is wrong, if it is already written in the text, you do not have to repeat it in alt text, so your alt text should be null, e.g. alt="" if it is an <img>.
However, the purpose of alt text is not to describe an object, it is to present the information that the object gives to sighted users. The line "The map shows three regions of temperate rain forest located along the West Coast of the United States" is a description, but it doesn't necessarily give any information or the information that the image was intended to convey. The appropriate alt text may well be something like: "Temperate rain forest regions on the West Coast are located mainly in Oregon and Washington but extend slightly north into British Columbia and South into California". If this is the information that the image is intended to convey (and if that isn't already written in the text). It is impossible to say without seeing the image and its context.
Mark
Mark Magennis
Skillsoft | mobile: +353 87 60 60 162
Accessibility Specialist