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Your headings need to provide some detail about what the content will be about. This rule applies to all headings of any place in a hierarchy or title. Instead of using generic headings like “Day 1” or “Part 1”, try including more details.

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Warning

This example lacks important details. The headings say too little about what their section is about.

An outline of headings on the History of Baseball for each era.Image Removed

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Tip

This example shows headings that are more descriptive. Now when a screen reader reads the section to the reader they will know some info about what section they will read.

A list of headings on the History of Baseball with the text being more descriptive. Names of the eras are provided with the dates it took place.Image Removed

Rule 2: Use Text Styles

A common practice for making headings is to make the text very big and bold. While that does make the content look like a heading, it is still not a real heading. Text Styles are used to make the text be seen as a heading in its code. That way when a screen reader scans over the heading, it will be read as one. You can use text styles for Normal Text, several Heading sizes, Titles, and many other types of text. Text Styles can also change the size of the text, the spacing, and the color of the font.

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  1. Type in your headings, in this example, we will use an essay on The History of Baseball. Be sure that your text is descriptive enough that readers will know what is happening in each section.

    An example of text without heading styles applied.
  2. Highlight your text at the top. Go to the “Styles” box in the Main Tool Bar and select “Title”. Note, you do have the ability to change the styles font. You can do this by highlighting your text and right clicking the style you are using. Then click Update “Title”, “Heading”, “Text” to Selection.

    The Style dropdown menu open with Title checked.
  3. Highlight your text that you want for your first group. In this case we will use “Introduction” Go back to the “Styles Panel” and click “Heading 1”.

    The Style dropdown menu open with Heading 1 checked.
  4. Highlight your text that will be in a group. In this case, it will be all 7 of the baseball eras. Go back to the “Styles Panel” and click “Heading 2”.

    The Style dropdown menu open with Heading 2 checked.
  5. Your hierarchy is established, and now readers will be able to tell where the section starts and ends. Be sure to open the Navigation Panel to be sure the hierarchy is established. The items in with Heading 2 must be under the items with Heading 1.

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Tip

In this example, the headings are listed with a meaningful style.

A complete hierarchy with heading levels applied.Image RemovedExample of our hierarchy in the google docs outliner.Image Removed

Info

Note: Be sure to not skip the hierarchical levels. If you have “Eras” as Heading 1 and “Dead Ball Era” as Heading 2, a section with your Heading 2 cannot be Heading 1, 2 or 4. They must be set as a Heading 3. Be sure to not have any heading styles overlap in the Outliner. Titles should always be above Heading 1, and Heading 1 text should always be above Heading 2 text and so on.

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