Clarity is key when creating content for the web, yet vague link phrases such as 鈥渞ead more鈥� or 鈥渓earn more鈥� remain common across websites and newsletters. While they may seem harmless, they create real barriers for accessibility.
The problem with vague link text
Link text is the text you see in a visible and clickable hyperlink.聽Screen reader users often list links separately from surrounding content to quickly scan and find what they need on a busy page. When every link says 鈥渞ead more鈥�, the list becomes meaningless. Instead of providing context, the user is forced to backtrack, read extra text, and guess which link leads where.
This doesn鈥檛 only affect people using assistive technologies.聽Skimming readers, people with cognitive disabilities, and聽even those navigating on mobile devices聽benefit from clear, descriptive links. Vague links slow everyone down.
What to do instead
A good rule of thumb: link text should make sense on its own. Users should understand what they鈥檒l find after clicking without needing to read the surrounding paragraph.
Instead of (link text in italics):
- Read more
- Learn more
- Click here
Try:
- Read more about聽undergraduate funding opportunities
- Learn more about sustainable building practices
- View 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 accessibility guidelines
Here's another , which gives a good visual demonstration of what screen reader users might see.
With context
Without context
Benefits of clear links
- Accessibility: Screen reader users can navigate more efficiently.
- SEO: Search engines use link text to understand the page it鈥檚 pointing to.
- User trust: Clear links reduce confusion and make users more confident about where they鈥檙e going.
- Scannability: Descriptive links improve page flow for all readers.
