Abbreviations and acronyms like "LOL" (laughing out loud or lots of love) and "ETA" (estimated time of arrival) are everywhere in communication, from texting to work emails. While they're handy for saving time and making things shorter, they can also significantly impact communication and accessibility for some.
WCAG SC 3.1.4: Abbreviations (Level AAA) was created "to ensure that users can access the expanded form of abbreviations."
This blog explores the pros and cons of abbreviations and acronyms in relation to accessibility and offers ways to keep your message clear for everyone.
The Pro of Abbreviations & Acronyms
Reduced Text Length: Shorter text can be easier to process for people with reading difficulties or cognitive limitations. Abbreviations can condense lengthy technical terms, simplifying the content.
The Cons
Unfamiliarity: Abbreviations can be confusing for people unfamiliar with the specific field or topic or those for whom English is a second language.
Rules of Language: Abbreviations can be confusing because some defy the typical rules of language. Take the abbreviation "rm" for "room." Unlike most words, "rm" doesn't sound like anything and doesn't follow standard pronunciation. Understanding "rm" requires knowing it's an abbreviation, not an actual word itself.
Homonyms: The same abbreviation might have different meanings depending on the context. For example, in "Dr. Johnson lives on Boswell Dr.," "Dr." refers to "Doctor" for Dr. Johnson, but for "Boswell Dr.," "Dr." is short for "Drive." One would need to pay attention to the clues around them to understand these abbreviations.
Screen Reader Issues: Screen readers often announce abbreviations and acronyms letter-by-letter. This can sound unnatural and disrupt the flow of information. For example, "NASA" would be read as "N-A-S-A" instead of "National Aeronautics and Space Administration."
Cognitive Barriers: People with learning disabilities or cognitive difficulties might struggle to decipher abbreviations and acronyms on the fly, which can create frustration and hinder their understanding.
Accessible Abbreviations & Acronyms
All of this is to say that using abbreviations and acronyms can be okay. There are simple ways to make abbreviations and acronyms more accessible.
Define Abbreviations: When using an abbreviation or acronym for the first time, write out the full term first, followed by the abbreviation in parenthesis. For example: "HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a..."
Provide Alternatives: Consider offering alternative ways to access the information. This could include audio descriptions, text transcripts of videos, or an abbreviation/acronym glossary.
Use Sparingly: Even if your audience is familiar with certain abbreviations, using them sparingly can help maintain clarity and readability.
Don’t Use at All: Instead, rephrase and / or spell out the abbreviation or acronym. For example, instead of “ASAP,” you could say "as soon as possible," which is only slightly longer but more universally understood.
Prioritize Clarity: If you have doubts about an abbreviation's understandability, err on clarity and write out the full term.
In DubBot, you can use Custom Policies to check all your content for abbreviations and acronyms to ensure your organization's best practices are being adhered to.
For example, the screenshot below highlights the process for creating a Custom Policy to look for the abbreviation of the word appointment, which in this case is "appt."
Abbreviations are an invaluable tool in modern communication, offering efficiency and brevity. However, their use must be balanced with the need for accessibility. By considering your audience, introducing abbreviations properly, and using them judiciously, you can ensure that your communication remains clear, inclusive, and effective.
