Checkpoint 5.14 - Mobile-PDA

The readability of mobile device screens is impacted by the size of the screen and the often less-than optimal environmental conditions in which the device is used. Text that is marked up using the <em> element typically is displayed as italicized text while text marked up as <strong> is displayed as bolded text. Due to the slanting of the italicized text and the slight pixelating it creates, italicized text is more difficult to read than non-italicized text. Bolding the text is much more readable that italicizing it.

Requirement

<strong> has been used in preference to <em>

Recommendation

Both <strong> and <em> elements, like other elements, can be styled and affected by CSS. Under no circumstances should the <i> element be used.

Checking Tool

View the page in a mobile device and verify that there is no italicized text. View the source code of the page and look for <em> or <i> elements.