WCAG 3.1.4 Abbreviations
AAA only: abbreviations have their expanded form available, for example through a glossary or the first use of the term.
Table of contents
What WCAG 3.1.4 Requires
AAA only: abbreviations have their expanded form available, for example through a glossary or the first use of the term.
How to Test It by Hand
Check whether abbreviations and acronyms are expanded on first use or link to their meaning.
Common Failures
- An acronym is used repeatedly with no expansion given anywhere on the page.
Testing WCAG 3.1.4 With AccessBell
This criterion depends on meaning or context, so it needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it is not missed.
Run a free scan to spot issues on your own pages.
Related Criteria in Readable
- 3.1.1 Language of Page (Level A, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.2 Language of Parts (Level AA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.3 Unusual Words (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.5 Reading Level (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
- 3.1.6 Pronunciation (Level AAA, WCAG 2.0)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WCAG 3.1.4 require?
AAA only: abbreviations have their expanded form available, for example through a glossary or the first use of the term.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 3.1.4 automatically?
Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.
What level is WCAG 3.1.4?
Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 3.1.4 Abbreviations (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
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