OVC increasingly uses the Web as a publishing tool. Writing for the Web differs from writing for print media, but not so much in the writing itself. The difference lies in how you, as the author, conceive and present the information. This section includes tips on effectively writing for the Web. For more guidance, check out Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines, which is available at Usability.gov.

Principles of Effective Web Writing

• Create pages for scanning, not reading. Use frequent and specific subheads, bulleted lists, and the inverted pyramid writing style to quickly convey main ideas.
  
  
• Be brief. McAlpine recommends that Web writers use only half as many words in an online document as in a print document.¹
  
  
• Organize information in coherent "chunks." Present information conceptually, rather than linearly, for easiest reading.
  
  
• Incorporate links into copy. Linking to separate pages with additional information keeps pages short and gives readers control over which parts of the document they read.
  
  
• Develop a keywords list. Keywords are one or multiple word combinations that describe your product and tell a search engine what information is contained in your product.
  
  
• Use good grammar and punctuation. Correct grammar is essential to establishing and maintaining online credibility.

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