Pillar: Headings

What and Why

Headings are the short descriptive text that identifies the content in the upcoming section. Built-in headings serve as a digital table of contents and allow the reader to identify the section they want to read and to quickly navigate to it. Using headings in descending order (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) benefits all users by making content easier to scan visually and enables assistive technologies like screen readers to interpret and navigate the page more efficiently.

Heading Best Practices

Keep headings short and descriptive.
Avoid fake headings: don’t simply bold or change font size.
Use the drop-down formatting menu to select built-in Heading Styles.
Avoid skipping heading levels (Heading 1 to Heading 4, for instance)
Structure headings in order (Heading 1 as the Title, Heading 2, Heading 3, etc.).

Microsoft word with the horizontal style pane highlighted and the vertical style pane highlighted

Heading Examples

Good example of Headings:

Proper headings are applied to enable logical navigation throughout the document.

Sample Correct Headers Syllabus Document (download word document)

Poor Example of Headings:

Improper heading formatting is applied in this Word document Syllabus. The author did not use the built-in Style formatting for Headings; instead, the author simply increased the font size of the heading, "English 101 Course Syllabus" and bolded it. You can download the sample Syllabus document and open it in Word to explore.

Sample Incorrect Headers Syllabus Document (download word document)

How to Apply Headings

In Microsoft Word and PowerPoint:
- Adding a heading in Microsoft products (read)
- Improving accessibility with heading styles in Microsoft (watch)
In UVA Canvas:
- UVA Canvas Help - How do I make textual content more accessible? (read)
- Canvas Instructure – How do I add and modify text in the Rich Content Editor? (read "Change Text Style")
- Your School’s Instructional design team may have additional UVA Canvas templates

Specialized How-To's

Tables and Headings
- Create Accessible Tables in Word (watch)
- UVA Canvas Help – How can I make my tables accessible? (read)
- Canvas Instructure Help - How do I insert a table using the Rich Content Editor? (read)
How to Modify the Font Style of Built-In Headings: Microsoft: Customize or Create New (heading) Styles (read)

Remember: Check the Accessibility of Course Content

Streamline & Check the Accessibility of Existing Content

Where can I get support or further training?

Coming soon, Summer 2025: “Faculty Pathways for DA Support”

For faculty designing or managing website content, please review Web Accessibility Tutorials

References

W3C. (2024). How to Meet WCAG-Quick Reference.