How to make Word documents accessible

Link text should describe where the link is taking the user. Users should understand where they are going by the link text alone.

You should avoid:

• Linking to inaccessible or untrustworthy sites. Or sites where a user must pay or register to see the information.
• Using images or icons as links

Good link text examples:

• 'How to create accessible content'
• 'Go to GOV.UK's coronavirus testing page'
• 'NHS guidance on COVID symptoms'
• 'What happens next when you contact us'

Bad link text examples:

• 'Click here' - it is too vague and not everyone can see where 'here' is
• 'Read this' - 'this' is not descriptive
• 'Learn more - 'more' is not descriptive

Why links need accessible link text

People using screen readers might not read all the text on your document. They might skip straight to the links, so they need to be descriptive.

How to write accessible link text

• Start with an action like download, visit, how to, go to, find out, read...
• Then use either:
  • The title of the web page you're linking to
  • A description of the web page you're linking to

You can include urls in your document if they are short and don't include 'https'. For example:

• www.norfolk.gov.uk/bankholidays
• www.norfolk.gov.uk/coronavirus

Microsoft Support show you how to create accessible links in Microsoft Word (video).

Other useful resources

Read GOV.UK's guidance on how to write link text.