Jyothi Kiran
How to write User Friendly Web Stories?
This lesson is based on the User Interface guru Jakob Nielsen`s 1998 Research on how users read on the web . Quite often users have experienced that a document written for the print doesn`t work very well on the web. This, we know is because reading online is different from reading on paper. The difference is mainly due to the following two reasons:
1. Users on the on the web scan the page instead of reading word to word.
2.
There are numerous articles on the net on writing for the web. I have compiled the most essential elements and made available in one page below. Follow these guidelines to practice user friendly writing on the web.
Chunking · "chunks," allow readers to quickly locate the materials they seek. A well-constructed chunk provides readers with a comprehensive account, as well as links to related or supporting pages for further study. Divide information into individual content bits · Limit sentences to one or two points · Use short paragraphs. Make Use of lists. Use fragments and phrases. Use pictures, graphs, icons and other visual elements.
Chunking doesn`t mean chopping the content into pieces without any discretion. Each chunk should be able to stand on its own. It should have an event, or a key point, which is easily accessed by the reader in the first glance. See Access below.
When deciding what defines a chunk of information, consider these three elements: Access, Page length and Printing.
Access. Your content list should already be composed of information chunks, because the definition of a content bit is any piece of information that needs to be accessed individually. Consider how users will interact with your materials: What items will they want to access directly? Define your information chunks to accommodate the expected usage patterns of your users.
Page length. Chunking provides a way to limit the length of your Web pages: Web readers generally prefer shorter pages. Don`t arbitrarily divide a document, however, and don`t divide a document that is likely to be printed anyway.
Printing. Don`t break your narrative into small segments if you expect that most users will want to print the information. Documents are easier to print from a single Web page. Or, if usage is difficult to predict, offer both a Web version and a link to an easy-to-print page or printing alternative, such as a downloadable PDF file.
Reduce Text
Online texts need to be shorter because Users don`t like to scroll through tons of text They are impatient to get to specific information Users read onscreen text 25% more slowly than from paper It`s painful to read text on screens Therefore reduce the word count for the online version of a given topic about half the word count used for print writing.
Use Hyperlinks
Hyperlinks are useful in two ways:
1. It supplements information by providing background information and reference material.
2. It increases credibility to web pages by indicating that information is well researched.
But too many hyperlinks can also mean you have nothing original to offer. Don`t use a hypertext link if the information can be succinctly presented on the current page. If there are too many hyperlinks, classify them under various category headings.
Objective language
Users connect to your website from unknown servers from remote locations. They are basically looking for information. They are not interested in marketing hype. The best way to earn User`s trust is by writing in a neutral style. Avoid exaggerated claims and overly boastful language. Keep it simple and straight to the point.
Use Scan-ability
Users don`t read word to word. They swiftly scan for information. Therefore use lists and points to drive home the message. Use short sentences. Highlight key points with approriate headings. Make use of blank space. Don`t clutter the page with too much of text, images and other distractive features.
Be concise
Lists don`t contain complete sentences, but phrases and key words. Thus, lists are very useful in providing large information with minimum use of space. You will find that you can include a greater number of lists on a web page than on a printed paper page. There are 2 kinds of lists. Numbered and unnumbered. Use numbered lists when the order of entries is important. Use unnumbered lists whenever the sequence of the entries is not important. However, limit the number of items in a single list to no more than nine. Generally, limit lists to no more than two levels: primary and secondary
Inverted Pyramid Style with a difference
This style practised by the newspapers summarizes information based on the 5 Ws (who, when, where, why, what) and H (How). Information flows down from the most important bit to the least important bit. The summary is the lead of the story. After the lead, each bit of information is explained in detail, in decreasing order of importance. While writing a good lead on the web, make sure that the lead does not "tell all` in the summary. A good lead is just that. It leads you to the other aspects of the story. Information should flow from one point to another.
The biggest difference of using the pyramid style writing on the web page is that, each information point should be able to stand independently on its own. Remember the rules of chunking and treat each chunk as an independent information bit. Avoid beginning your sentences with connecting words such as `therefore`, `but`, `however, `since`, `finally`, `and` and `if only`.
For example consider the following story
Hospital supplies delayed
The hospital supply truck arrived late that morning. There was a terrible accident due to bad weather and slippery road. Therefore, the supply was delayed.
There are three points in the above story. Each of these points may be developed into a separate paragraph. But on the web page, it doesn`t make sense if the third paragraph begins with "Therefore the supply was delayed". Users enter into the story from mere key words through search engines. Therefore it is necessary that each chunk of the story contains information that can stand alone. The third paragraph should begin by saying "The hospital supply was delayed because of a road accident". More details of the accident may be given in the paragraph.
Headlines give information that will make the user want to click for further information.
Use Blank Space
Appropriate use of blank space highlights key elements in a page.
White space gives relief to the eye from too much text and images.
It creates breathing space online.