Make Web Links Plain

Usability Sample

Is it more important that you click on the links provided than it is to keep reading the article?

Emphasized and Linked Links Still Catch Attention

Guilds and Trade Corporations

Learned authorities have frequently discussed, without agreeing, on the question of the origin of the Corporations of the Middle Ages. It may be admitted, we think à priori, that associations of artisans were as ancient as the trades themselves. It may readily be imagined that the numerous members of the industrial classes, having to maintain and defend their common rights and common interests, would have sought to establish mutual fraternal associations among themselves. The deeper we dive into ancient history the clearer we perceive traces, more or less distinct, of these kinds of associations. To cite only two examples, which may serve to some extent as an historical parallel to the analogous institutions of the present day, we may mention the Roman Colleges, which were really leagues of artisans following the same calling; and the Scandinavian guilds, whose object was to assimilate the different branches of industry and trade, either of a city or of some particular district.

Guilds and Trade Corporations

Learned authorities have frequently discussed, without agreeing, on the question of the origin of the Corporations of the Middle Ages. It may be admitted, we think à priori, that associations of artisans were as ancient as the trades themselves. It may readily be imagined that the numerous members of the industrial classes, having to maintain and defend their common rights and common interests, would have sought to establish mutual fraternal associations among themselves. The deeper we dive into ancient history the clearer we perceive traces, more or less distinct, of these kinds of associations. To cite only two examples, which may serve to some extent as an historical parallel to the analogous institutions of the present day, we may mention the Roman Colleges, which were really leagues of artisans following the same calling; and the Scandinavian guilds, whose object was to assimilate the different branches of industry and trade, either of a city or of some particular district.

Source: The Project Gutenberg EBook of Manners, Custom and Dress During the Middle Ages and During the Renaissance Period, by Paul Lacroix. Modifed to illustrate web usability principles.

Usability Tip

Use text markup appropriately.

Bold text, for example, indicates an emphasis on a word or phrase. Linked text indicates that additional information is available. Blue, underlined text already catches the eye, so there's no need to add extra styles to links. Additionally, since underlining already distorts the shape of letters and reduces reading comprehension, avoiding unnecessary styles will improve your readers' ability to grasp your meaning.

Indicate additional emphasis in your content through the use of white space or headers.

Accessibility Alert

Web code (headers, emphasis, quoted text) means something. Different browsers or screen readers may interpret such elements differently depending on their users' needs. Don't use meaningful code just to make something "pretty."