Southern New Hampshire University

Accessible Links in Microsoft Word

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What are descriptive hyperlinks?

Descriptive hyperlinks are weblinks disguised as descriptive text where clicking on the link will take the user.

Each link must have meaningful text describing its purpose without relying on the surrounding text. While it is important to be descriptive, keep it as concise as possible.

Screen readers will announce aloud  "link" when it comes across a hyperlink, so there is no need to include the word "link" as part of the meaningful descriptive text. 

Many screen readers, including JAWS and VoiceOver, allow users to read the Web page links, as demonstrated in the image below listing links from this page. As the list shows, link text which is meaningful out of context is more usable in a list.

List of links in the website for use as an example.

Avoid non-informative link phrases such as the following:

  • Click here 
  • here
  • Learn more
  • More info 
  • Read more 
  • link to [some link destination]

Instead, use more descriptive language and meaning text such as:

  • How to add alternative text to images
  • Learn how to make your work accessible
  • Read more on making Word documents accessible

In Microsoft Applications:

  • Highlight the URL and right-click. 
  • Select “Link” then Insert Link.
  • Enter the descriptive text in the "Display text."
Link creation window with "display text" and "enter link" text box.

In a MAC the display may appear as such when inserting hyperlinks.

The pop-up window to add the link to the meaningful text and with the address in the appropriate box.

Remember that the default color of a hyperlink is blue and is underlined. 

The outcome from adding the link to meaningful text with the link being blue and underlined.
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