Company
Date Published
Author
Michelle S.
Word count
927
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The author's story about reading classic books as a child highlights the importance of readability and understanding in writing, particularly when it comes to user experience (UX) copy. According to the Web Content and Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), text should be readable at a lower secondary level of education. The author's story received a readability score of Grade 4 using the Hemingway App, indicating that it may not be accessible to all users. The article emphasizes the need for context in understanding written content, as certain words and phrases can be ambiguous or exclusive, such as "bairn" (child), "heart sang" (overjoyed), and "bro" (male friend). To improve accessibility, authors should expand acronyms and abbreviations, provide glossaries, avoid idiomatic language, and use simple words. Additionally, specifying the language of the page, avoiding noun strings, and changing ambiguous language can also enhance readability and understanding. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of closed captioning in making videos more accessible for users with hearing impairments.