Web Development
Web Developer Guidelines
Visual Design Recommendations

Checkpoint 1.8 - Core

Long quotes use the <blockquote> element

WCAG 1.0 Priority 2

WCAG Guideline 3. Use markup and style sheets and do so properly.

The <blockquote> element is used for long quotations where the paragraph break is appropriate. A quote text will appear slightly indented on a page by default and screen readers will say quote when they come across a <blockquote> element in the text therefore both sighted and visually impaired users will receive the same information.

Requirement

Use the <blockquote> element for all long text quotes on the web page.

Recommendation

It is important to ensure there are no empty <blockquote> elements on a page as they will also be announced to screen readers' users.

CSS can be used to visually style a <blockquote> element.

Checking Tool

  • Internet Explorer - AIS toolbar: Structure > Blockquote / Q
  • Firefox - Web Developer's Toolbar: Outline > Outline Custom Elements, type blockquote and hit OK

Information Source

The original source of this information is located on the W3C web site  (www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-TECHS/#tech-use-markup)

 

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