• Web accessibility training DEV (Tests)
• Foundation-level training for T4 editors
• Headings
• When to use a heading

When to use (and not use) a heading

When to use a heading

As discussed, headings are used to introduce topics or sub-topics on a page.

When writing or editing the text beneath each heading, be sure you haven't drifted onto a new topic that should really be under a new heading; create one if you need to.

Sometimes it's not immediately obvious when a new heading is needed, or perhaps where one isn't strictly needed, but it would be useful to those using headings for navigation via assistive technology. The following are examples of these situations.

Using bold text to introduce a section

If you find that you're using bold text to introduce a list or paragraph, you should be using a heading instead.

Bold text should be used to emphasise specific content, not to introduce topics or sub-topics in place of a proper heading. (For more information on emphasis, see how to correctly emphasise text.)

Example

Evergreen trees

• Fir
• Pine
• Spruce
• Yew

In this example, 'Evergreen trees' should be a heading, not bold text.

Working with text punctuated by a colon

This depends on how the colon is used. If the colon is being used to make the preceding text into a label, then that text should really be a heading, even if that means rewording it slightly.

Example 1: the colon creates a label

'Group A: (some information for group A).'

In this example, the colon makes 'Group A' a label for the information that follows, so 'Group A' or 'Information for group A' should be a heading here.

Example 2: the colon introduces a list

If you plan to attend on Saturday, you will need:

• A pen
• A waterproof jacket
• Something to drink

Here, the colon introduces a list, so this is fine as it is. Depending on the context though, it could also be re-worked with a heading, which would be more useful to users of assistive technology, as follows:

Items to bring if attending on Saturday

• A pen
• A waterproof jacket
• Something to drink

Example 3: two joined clauses

'The reason was clear: there weren't enough elephants.'

In this example, the colon joins two related clauses. It's not creating a label, so this text is fine as it is.

Example 4: presenting multiple blocks of content, where the introductory clause differs slightly each time

If you're in group A, you will need:

• A hat
• Two dice
• Food to share

If you're in group B, you will need:

• A scarf
• A paperclip
• Drink to share

In this example, the colon is used to introduce a list, and emphasis has been correctly used to highlight the difference in each case, so this is technically fine.

However, the lists would be better introduced by using headings, 'Items for Group A' and 'Items for Group B', because then someone using assistive technology could navigate directly to the list appropriate for them.

When not to use a heading

Tables

It's fine to use a heading to introduce a table, but do not format any of the table contents as a heading. Tables have their own automatic styling and, when properly constructed, their contents will automatically format appropriately.

Links

It's fine to make certain words or parts of a heading into links to more information about those words. You might do this, for example, if your heading contains a technical term, and there is explanation about this term on another page. However, don't make the entire heading into a link. Headings as a whole are supposed to be about the content beneath them, not about content in another page or section.

Conversely, don't format a link as a heading simply to make it stand out; again, the purpose of headings is to introduce the content beneath them.