Links & Citations

Why does this matter?

While the option to skip text and paragraphs exists, most screen readers can’t skip past link text. The screen reader will read the whole link, so it is very important to keep your links short and to the point. Writing accessible links allows all types of users to more quickly navigate through the page.

Screen readers have an option to read all of the links on the page, so keeping your links short and descriptive is a key point in making them accessible as well. If all of the links on the page just say “click here”, assistive technology users will have no idea what any of the links on your page do.

Accessible Links

Correct Practices

When linking content, these are the things to keep in mind to make your link as accessible as possible.

1. Use meaningful text to describe where the user is being linked to.

Do not use the words “click here”, “link”, or anything similar. These words do not help describe where the user will be going when the link is followed.

2. Do not use URLs as the link text.

URLs tend to be long strings of characters that don’t make any sense when read by a screen reader. Avoid using the URL as the link text. Instead, describe where the user will be taken by the link.

3. (Optional) The URL needs to be visible to remain accessible for print copies of the content.

If there are plans to create print copies of a the content, this is an important point to remember. Links are not accessible on paper if the full URL to the website is not provided. To make links accessible in print formats, either follow the link text with the full URL in brackets, or provide a section in the back of the content that lists all of the URLs used within the content.

Common Mistakes

Do not use the following phrases in your link, as they are too ambiguous, and make no sense when removed from the context of your content.

  • Click here
  • Read more
  • More
  • Find out more
  • More Details
  • Click for details

Avoiding these phrases will help guide you in the right direction to creating accessible links.

Examples

Correct Example:

If you would like to practice, please go to Practice Website – Practice Problems (https://www.practicewebsite.com/QrnqoiueRNHqrh/qWrr/practice_problems).

Incorrect Examples:

If you would like to practice, please go to https://www.practicewebsite.com/QrnqoiueRNHqrh/qWrr/practice_problems.

If you would like to practice, please click here.

Accessible Citations

All of the rules listed in the links section apply to citations as well. The only important thing to note specifically for citations is that the title of the citation should be the active link, not the URL. Below are two examples using APA 7.

Correct Example:

Price, D. (2018, March 23). Laziness does not exist. Medium. https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01

Incorrect Example:

Price, D. (2018, March 23). Laziness does not exist. Medium. https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01

Practice Activitys

References

Create accessible links. New York State Education Department. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2022, from http://www.nysed.gov/webaccess/create-accessible-hypertext-links

License

Accessibility Sprints Copyright © by Students at OER Production Lab, Centennial College. All Rights Reserved.

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