Use text styling purposefully to support clarity, accessibility and usability, ensuring readers can quickly identify key information without distraction or confusion.
Bold
Use bold text sparingly, usually no more than one to two words, not whole sentences. Too much bold text makes it harder for users to see what matters.
Use bold to highlight specific items users need to notice, such as:
- interface elements or actions, for example: Select Start
- important reference details, for example: Your reference number is XYZ321
Do not use bold just to add emphasis.
To emphasise important information, instead:
- put the key point at the start of the sentence
- use clear headings
- use bullet points
Italics
Avoid italics. They can be harder to read, especially for people with dyslexia or visual impairments.
Use single quotation marks instead when referring to named items such as documents, policies or schemes.
Underlining
Do not underline text. Underlining suggests a link.