What style of writing works online?

Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext

What style of writing works online?

Create Short, Self-Contained Topics
Chunk the Text
Keep Paragraphs Short
Write Simply and Directly
Rethink Notions of Transitional, Linear Writing
Apply a Consistent, Transparent Style
Make the Text Scannable
Ensure Accurate Reading
Quick Online Writing Tips
Common Pitfalls

Example: Effective online writing style

Denver Zoo Online uses an effective online writing style. The content is divided into short, self-contained topics. Each topic addresses one main idea and is no longer than three screens of information. The text is concise and written using simple, direct language and a consistent, transparent style. This site also uses links effectively (and sparingly), and most links point within the site.

To compose effective hypertext, consider the following writing style guidelines:

Apply with fervor the principles of clear writing while attending to the differences between online and print documents (Horton, 1994).

Writers need to create short topics written in short paragraphs with simple language. According to Helen L. Mitternight (1998), "The online style is like writing on caffeine–there is no time for leisurely discourse" (p. 37).

Chunk the text.

Chunking breaks up the text and provides sufficient white space. Through strategies such as restructuring narrative text into bulleted lists whenever possible, writers can improve the readability (and the scannability) of their hypertext.

Rethink traditional notions of transitional, linear writing.

Some argue that transitional phrases and sentences in online documents add clutter and slow down the reader. Others contend that hypertext documents require more transitions to counter the loss of context inherent in this medium.

Use a consistent, transparent writing style.

A chaotic style that screams for attention merely distracts readers from their goal of finding information quickly and painlessly.

Design hypertext to encourage and support online reading patterns.

Most online readers are not primarily interested in reading. They typically go online for quick answers to their questions, scanning documents and traversing links to find those answers.

This guideline suggests that you:

Create coherent, self-contained topics that will not be confusing if read out of order (to accommodate jumpy searching)

Make documents scannable (to help goal-oriented readers find the information they seek as quickly as possible)

Ensure accurate reading (to offset the legibility problems posed by screen reading)

Keep the content fresh.

Hypertext is interactive because it can grow and change as new information is learned or in response to reader feedback. Recognize that no online writing is ever complete (Mitternight, 1998).

One of Jakob Nielsen's deadly sins of Web design is outdated information. Think of yourself as a Web gardener, someone who prunes Web pages relentlessly.

Besides attending to readers' needs, ongoing maintenance is a cheap way to enhance the content of a Web site (Allstetter, 1998).

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Last Updated: May 2, 2001

(c)2000 by Alysson Troffer. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document, in whole or in part, without written permission.


			Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext
			Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext

	What style of writing works online? Create Short, Self-Contained Topics Chunk the Text Keep Paragraphs Short Write Simply and Directly Rethink Notions of Transitional, Linear Writing Apply a Consistent, Transparent Style Make the Text Scannable Ensure Accurate Reading Quick Online Writing Tips Common Pitfalls
	`Example: Effective online writing style` `Denver Zoo Online uses an effective online writing style. The content is divided into short, self-contained topics. Each topic addresses one main idea and is no longer than three screens of information. The text is concise and written using simple, direct language and a consistent, transparent style. This site also uses links effectively (and sparingly), and most links point within the site.` To compose effective hypertext, consider the following writing style guidelines: Apply with fervor the principles of clear writing while attending to the differences between online and print documents (Horton, 1994). Writers need to create short topics written in short paragraphs with simple language. According to Helen L. Mitternight (1998), "The online style is like writing on caffeine–there is no time for leisurely discourse" (p. 37). Chunk the text. Chunking breaks up the text and provides sufficient white space. Through strategies such as restructuring narrative text into bulleted lists whenever possible, writers can improve the readability (and the scannability) of their hypertext. Rethink traditional notions of transitional, linear writing. Some argue that transitional phrases and sentences in online documents add clutter and slow down the reader. Others contend that hypertext documents require more transitions to counter the loss of context inherent in this medium. Use a consistent, transparent writing style. A chaotic style that screams for attention merely distracts readers from their goal of finding information quickly and painlessly. Design hypertext to encourage and support online reading patterns. Most online readers are not primarily interested in reading. They typically go online for quick answers to their questions, scanning documents and traversing links to find those answers. This guideline suggests that you: Create coherent, self-contained topics that will not be confusing if read out of order (to accommodate jumpy searching) Make documents scannable (to help goal-oriented readers find the information they seek as quickly as possible) Ensure accurate reading (to offset the legibility problems posed by screen reading) Keep the content fresh. Hypertext is interactive because it can grow and change as new information is learned or in response to reader feedback. Recognize that no online writing is ever complete (Mitternight, 1998). One of Jakob Nielsen's deadly sins of Web design is outdated information. Think of yourself as a Web gardener, someone who prunes Web pages relentlessly. Besides attending to readers' needs, ongoing maintenance is a cheap way to enhance the content of a Web site (Allstetter, 1998).
	[Brief TOC] [Expanded TOC] [Printer-Friendly Version] [Webfolio] [Next]: Create Short, Self-Contained Topics Comments? Please email me! Last Updated: May 2, 2001 (c)2000 by Alysson Troffer. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document, in whole or in part, without written permission.