Acronyms and abbreviations

Introduce and expand on first use

Write the full term the first time, followed by the acronym in parentheses. Use the acronym alone afterward.

Example: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Later: “WCAG requires …”

Consider pronunciation

Screen readers may mispronounce certain acronyms, which can affect user comprehension. Consider how your acronyms will sound when read aloud by assistive technology.

• If a screen reader mispronounces a critical acronym, consider adding the full term again.
• Avoid periods in acronyms (e.g., use “USA,” not “U.S.A.”).

Testing your content with screen readers or text-to-speech software can help you identify problematic acronyms that may need special handling.

Provide a glossary for long documents

Add a glossary or list of abbreviations for reference, especially in technical documents.

Terminology Consistency: If your project maintains a terminology list, recommend referencing it for consistency across documents.

How to implement acronyms properly

Follow these detailed instructions to handle acronyms and abbreviations accessibly in your documents:

First use: Introducing an acronym

When you first introduce an acronym in your document, provide both the full term and the abbreviated form to ensure all readers understand the meaning.

1. Type the full term first:
   • Write out the complete name or phrase
   • Example: "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines"
2. Add the acronym in parentheses:
   • Follow the full term with the acronym
   • Complete example: "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)"
3. Use plain language for the full term:
   • Avoid complex jargon in your expansion
   • If needed, add a brief explanation after the acronym

Subsequent uses: After the first reference

Once you have established what an acronym means, you can use it more freely throughout your document.

1. Use just the acronym:
   • You can now use "WCAG" alone
   • No need to repeat the full term
2. Consider context:
   • If it's been many pages, remind readers with the full term again
   • In new sections, you may want to re-introduce important acronyms

Creating an acronym glossary

For documents with multiple acronyms, consider creating a dedicated glossary section to help readers reference unfamiliar terms.

Basic glossary approach

For most documents, you can simply follow the standard "full term (acronym)" format throughout your content. This approach works well for documents with just a few acronyms.

Formal glossary for complex documents

Documents with many technical terms benefit from a dedicated acronym section. Here's how to structure it effectively:

• Create an "Abbreviations" or "List of Acronyms" section
• Place this section near the beginning of your document, typically after the table of contents
• Format as a simple two-column layout: "Acronym" and "Full Term"
• List acronyms alphabetically for easy reference

Example glossary format

A well-structured acronym glossary might look like this:

• API - Application Programming Interface
• IT - Information Technology
• PDF - Portable Document Format
• WCAG - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Screen reader considerations

Assistive technology users rely on how acronyms are pronounced and interpreted by screen readers. Consider these factors when implementing acronyms:

Testing pronunciation

Different screen readers may pronounce acronyms differently, affecting comprehension for users.

• Test how screen readers pronounce your acronyms
• If an acronym is mispronounced badly, consider spelling it out occasionally

Formatting considerations

How you format acronyms affects how screen readers interpret them:

• Use "USA" instead of "U.S.A."
• Periods can cause awkward pronunciation

Providing context

Even after introducing an acronym, occasional context helps maintain comprehension:

• Even after introducing an acronym, occasionally provide context
• Example: "The WCAG guidelines recommend..." (reminds readers what WCAG is)

Quick checklist for acronym accessibility

Use this checklist to ensure your acronyms meet accessibility standards:

1. ✓ First use shows full term followed by acronym in parentheses
2. ✓ Subsequent uses can use acronym alone
3. ✓ Long documents include an acronym list
4. ✓ Acronyms are spelled without periods (NASA not N.A.S.A.)
5. ✓ Context clues help readers remember what acronyms mean

Related WCAG resources