Create an Accessible Word Document

To make your link text accessible make sure it is:

• Descriptive:
  • Users should be able to tell the purpose or destination of the link by the link text alone
  • Use the link destination as the link text, e.g., University of Guelph Library
• Concise
• Unique
  • Avoid duplication of link text, especially for links heading to different destinations
• Visually distinctive
  • Links should be formatted to stand out from normal text to ensure they are easy to identify

There are three different link options for Word documents:

1. Existing File or Web Page
2. Place in This Document
   • Allows you to link to a heading or a bookmark
3. E-mail Address

How to add a link:

1. Highlight link text
2. Right-click and select Link (or Hyperlink on Mac)
3. Choose Link to destination

Adding links to documents that are intended to be printed:

1. Create a descriptive hyperlink like you would in any document
2. Put the unlinked URL in parentheses after the descriptive hyperlink
   • For example, McLaughlin Library (https://www.lib.uoguelph.ca)

Go to your workbook and complete Step 4: Create Descriptive Links.