Writing Guidelines

• useful headings
• headings2
• first few words
• active voice
• set the context
• use lists
• imperatives
• parallelisms
• simpler words
• fragments
• descriptive links
• combine guidelines

Writing for the Web:

Make links descriptive

Users are more succesful following links than searching. (Jakob Nielsen)

Links that are descriptive are more useful than links that name categories.

• Links that are 7 - 11 words long are most useful.
• Words must be informative - not fluff.

No (too vague):

Resources Subjects Services

Yes:

Searchable Resources: databases you can search for books, journals, e-journals, theses and more Subjects/Courses: pages related to specific subjects & courses at MIT Services: research help, ordering articles, library tours and more

 

  hennig@mit.edu