This guide will provide you with guidance in creating and maintaining a usable, readable and well designed web page and/or guide. The structure, layout and much of the content was derived from Boston College Library, and is used with their permission.

Users will skim and select content on web pages in an F-shaped pattern. Make your web content easy to read with these tips:

• Write clearly and simply.
• Put the most important information at the top.
• Avoid long paragraphs of content. Use lists.
• Less is more! Aim for action content and avoid prose. 
• Break up long lists. Lists with more than 7 items appear long and may not get read.
• Link to denser material deeper in the page.

• Use a personal tone in writing.
• Focus on using an active voice rather than passive.
  • active voice: The Science Library has 2 group study rooms.
  • passive voice: Two group study rooms are available at the Science Library.
• Use pronouns. The user is You. The library is We.
  • "We provide study spaces."
  • "We'll help you find the most relevant resources."
• Avoid jargon. Use words the user will use.
  • Bad: "The link resolver will direct you to intermediary pages with direct links to publisher and vendor-provided sites with pdf or html versions of articles."
  • Good: "Click the 'FUll Text?' button to search for full-text articles."

The following resources were used to inform the creation of this guide content. Please refer to them as needed for more in-depth information.