Formatting Content for the Web: Helpful Hints

These guidelines are intended to help you follow the standard formats for the IUP website.

Following the standard formats will increase consistency and usability across the website and maximize Google searchability.

Introduction/Headings

Use them according to the guidelines below. They are not interchangeable.

Introduction

Use the introduction style when highlighting the first paragraph of your content.

To apply the Introduction style, place your cursor anywhere within the first paragraph, then choose the style from the editing toolbar (see image at right). 

The point of the introductory style is twofold:

1. It shows people where to start reading. This is particularly important on a busy webpage that includes many navigational elements.
2. It encourages writers to have a strong lead sentence for the web page. That first sentence should always tell you the one most important thing a visitor to that page needs to know. Many visitors won't get any further. So if the first sentence isn't a good introduction to the page—it should be.

Note: The introduction style is for the first paragraph only. Do not use the introduction style in place of headings.

Headings

Use headings for the section headings within your content. They should be used in descending order, starting with Heading 2 for the primary side heads. Sub-heads within the primary Heading 2 use Heading 3, etc.

• Do not use headings for whole sentences or paragraphs.
• Do not use headings out of order. Use them for their function, not for their appearance.
  
  Examples:

Please note the following:

• Use of headings helps with Google searchability.
• Headings need to be used correctly to be accessible (ADA requirements)

Mixing the Two

Do not use introduction and a heading style. This alters the heading appearance and consistency.

Showing Emphasis

Italics

Use italics to show emphasis. However, overusing italic type detracts from its ability to show emphasis.

Bold

Reserve bold for when you really need it. Overusing bold detracts from its ability to show emphasis. Using bold in text also detracts from the ability of headings to stand out on a page.

All Capitals

Do not use all capitals. They make text more difficult to read, and some people interpret them as yelling.

Note: Organizing text with the appropriate headings, ordered lists, and other styles may be a more effective way of showing emphasis.

Links

Define the Link

The linked text should tell a person what is on the other side.

URLs in Text

Do not use URLs in text.

Email

Do not link a person's name to an email address. Link a person's name to a page with more information about the person, but write out an email address.

Inserting Links

Links should always be text-based, not a bare URL.

For internal links (to items within the Cascade CMS), click on the Link Source field to choose a file, page, or link.

For external links (outside of the www.iup.edu website), add the link to the Link Source field.

Ordered and Unordered Lists

Use the ordered or unordered list options in the formatting toolbar. Do not use special “bullet” characters or type the number of the listed item. Instead, highlight the lines that you want included in the list and select the desired option. Aside from maintaining a consistent style, doing this is also an accessibility requirement, as it allows people with visual impairment to understand that what they are reading is an actual list.

Other Points

• Do not make surrounding punctuation—such as periods, commas, or quotes—part of the link.
• Avoid making links bold.

Customized Formatting

Please use the standard formatting styles provided on the toolbars within the CMS editor. Centered and underlined text, for example, are not used on the website.

Also, use the ordered-list styles—bullet points and numbered lists—provided by the CMS, rather than creating them by hand.

Tables

Avoid use of tables when possible. There is a growing focus on making websites more accessible to people with disabilities, and tables are not easily translated for those who use screen readers on the Web.

If a table is needed, [need info and link]

Images

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Photos and other graphics should be sized appropriately before being uploaded into the CMS. Do not resize images within the CMS; uploading oversized images is an inefficient use of storage space on the central server.

Standard photo sizes for the IUP website are as follows:

Divisions in Text

Do not use lines or combinations of symbols to make divisions in text. Proper use of headings should suffice.