by Rachel McAlpine on 31 January 2012 · 4 comments
Today’s the day the Occupy Wellington people have been removed by police from their camping site in Civic Square.
I’m not about to pontificate on the wrongs and rights, the origins and developments of the Occupy movement—although I have an unfortunate fondness for pontificating, and I believe, a certain talent.
I’ve been musing on activeness and passiveness, both of verbs and protests. The name of this movement—Occupy!—is a wondrously clear and active verb. Indeed, it’s almost startling in its activeness.
Yet by definition, the word occupy goes nowhere. More expressive than sit or squat, it’s milder than colonize. So a sneaky thought scuttles in its wake: OK, occupy … and then what?
In extreme contrast to the activeness of the verb occupy is the language in the Wellington protesters’ code of conduct as published in the Dominion Post of 14-15 January. This code was, I’m sure, drawn up in good faith by a small band of protesters and shows a general wish to encourage courteous behaviour. No PR firm assisted, that’s clear, so let’s not judge it too harshly.
But the last two items in this code of conduct reveal the hideous linguistic tangle you can create when you strain too hard to be simultaneously polite, respectful and authoritative. Passive verbs swoop in and occupy your sentences, and tie your thoughts in knots. Which is more respectful: to say to others, ‘Don’t swear,’ or to confuse them with impenetrable utterings from the clouds?
Ihi wehi te mana
No consumption or trading of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs on Maui’s Garden (including the area).
People who are adversely intoxicated will be asked to retire to a tent or to leave the site.
Civility is expected with awareness to restrict anti-social behaviour and foul language.
Interaction with the public is encouraged to be friendly and informative.
Photo: Rachel’s desk, complete with a Never never never give up card from a friend, and favourite orange wildflowers from Mt Vic this morning. Just because.
by Rachel McAlpine on 25 January 2012 · 2 comments
Hi Rachel
We have a couple of questions about link-text. If it’s not too much trouble, we’d like your opinion. We can’t find the answers anywhere.
Question 1: When you are linking to another page on the same website, should the link text be exactly the same as the page title that you are linking to or can the link text be more descriptive of what the reader will find on that page?
Resource title = Terms and conditions for Singapore sports clubs
Link text = read our rules for sports clubs
For example, a page we might want to link to is called “Terms and conditions for Singapore sports clubs”. Should this be the link text we use on an associated page or could we use something shorter and easier to read? For example, Read our rules for sports clubs. And should we use the same link text across the site to refer to the same page?
Gulika
Hi Gulika
Happy new Year of the Dragon! (I’m a dragon, so watch out for fireworks from Contented this year.)
This can be a sticky problem. But here’s what I think: use the page headline (or title) as the words in your link if you possibly can. And be consistent across the web site. When a page or a document has an adequate headline, no need to tinker with it: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
A. Terms and conditions for Singapore sports clubs
B. Read our rules for sports clubs.
- Both links and page headlines ought to be concise, complete, packed with keywords and crystal clear. A passes, B not so much.
- The reader should not be surprised or puzzled after clicking the link: she should know she is on the right page. Links should not confuse people even for a moment’s wondering, ‘Oh, where am I? There is no confusion when the link-text is identical to the headline or title on the target page or target PDF. A passes, B not so much.
- Every link should start with a unique few words. The first 2 words are all-important: these are often the only words people notice. Don’t waste that precious slot on any generic, common or vague words. A passes, B not so much.
- Links should be task-oriented. At first sight, ‘Read’ is a command so the link seems to task-oriented. But it’s an illusion, because reading is not much of a task. We take it for granted that every link will lead to something that needs reading! That’s true even if the main purpose of the target page is to enable us to register for a conference, or purchase something, or sit a test. You could put ‘Read’ at the beginning of half your links, thereby wasting some of your most valuable real estate, and reducing the likelihood that links will be noticed.
EXCEPTION: If people are likely to need to print a page, and if the printed page has links to essential information for the task at hand, actual URLs should also be provided. This is an accessibility issue. Here’s where decisions get sticky! I would make this kind of link-text the exception, not the rule. I know this comment is vague, sorry: all the more reason to figure out a policy for your web site. Some elegant solutions are possible.
Rachel
Rachel, here’s another of a less obvious type – is the link title solution below better or not – my rationale: you lose ‘issues’ as keyword but get a sense that there are practical tips from ‘How to’ and suggests a concrete, active solution to the user’s problem? Or would it be better to say ‘How to deal with complaints’, so that there is some reflection between the title of the resource and the link?
Resource title = Dealing with issues and complaints
Link title = How to handle complaints
Thank you!
Gulika
Gulika, again, just stick to the resource title: it will work very well as link-text. This type of link is dealt with in Gerry McGovern’s latest newsletter, so I will quote him:
Have unique beginnings for all your links. The first 3-4 words are so incredibly important on the Web. If you have a guide on how to install a router, write the link: “Installation instructions”. Don’t write “How to install this router”. Otherwise you’ll have lots of links beginning with “How to”. Lead with the need.
Gerry McGovern is a hero of the Web. I love it when he says the same thing as me.
Photo of old hippie bus: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, CC Skeggy’s photostream
