Bold

Avoid using bold. Too much bold makes it difficult for users to know which content they need to pay the most attention to.

To emphasise words or phrases:

• put key information at the start of sentences
• use headings
• use bullets.

Italics

Do not use italics. It makes the words harder to read — especially for people who have poor eyesight and dyslexia.

• Documents — use single quote marks. For example, ‘Community resource kit’.
• Scientific names — capitalise the first letter of the scientific name. For example, ‘Patella vulgata’ instead of ‘Patella vulgata'.

Italics and how it disadvantages those with dyslexia

Underline

Never use underline to emphasise your text because underline is used to indicate hyperlinks.