Word – Using Headings To Organize Content

Documents are easier to read for ALL users when content is “chunked” into logical and smaller sections of information. Many textbooks already apply such a similar concept of organization, as demonstrated on the right.

As oppose to one large paragraph, notice how the information is organized into smaller sections, organized by headings and utilizing a number list for selected objects. This helps a reader to locate and scan information more efficiently.

As you create your Word documents, use Headings to organize content into specific sections. This helps a user with a screen reader locate specific sections of text much like a table of contents at the beginning of a book or on a Web site.

The number to the right of the heading listed in the styles indicates its hierarchical importance. Text with a Heading of 1 would be used for text like a page title. Text with a Heading of 2 might be viewed as a section title. Heading of 3 might be used for sub-section and so on.

Using descriptive headers will allow users with a screen reader to “jump” to the sections they are looking for, without having to listen to the entire text. Think of it as audible skimming. Just as a visually adept student would be able to skim the page headings in search of the section they are looking for, students with a visual disability would be able to do the same audibly.

Word Tutorial:
Apply Heading Styles to Selected Text