Word Best Practices
Add a Document Title
A document title is metadata that helps people and software understand what the document is about. This should not be confused with the main Heading 1 (H1) of your document, and it is also different from the filename you assign when you save the document. To add a document title in Microsoft Word, go to File > Info > Properties > Add a title.
Learn: Change document properties
headings styles
Always use built-in headings and styles to properly structure and format your content (e.g., Heading 1 for the title, Heading 2 for major sections, etc.) without skipping heading levels. Do not create "fake" headings by manually altering text to appear larger or bolder. You can modify the appearance of a heading level by customizing the style template.
Learn: Improve accessibility with heading styles
Images
Ensure all visual content (images, graphics, charts, SmartArt, etc.) includes alt text.
Learn: Improve accessibility with alt text
Tables
Use the built-in table feature for accessibility. Avoid complex tables or using tables for layout.
Learn: Create accessible tables in Word
Links
Add meaningful hyperlink text. Avoid using the full URL or generic link text like “click here.”
Learn: Create accessible links in Word
Lists
Use Word's bulleted or numbered list styles instead of manual formatting.
Learn: Create accessible lists in Word
Accessibility Checker
Use Word's built-in Accessibility Checker to identify and resolve accessibility issues.
Learn: How to use the Accessibility Checker
Converting to PDF
To preserve accessibility features, ensure your document is saved properly when exporting it to a PDF.