Use headings to give a page a clear structure
Headings describe the structure of a page. They help readers scan, and assistive technology can use them to navigate sections. A heading level is not simply a way to make text bigger: choose it for the section’s relationship to the rest of the content.
Before you start
- List the main subject and the separate questions the page answers.
- Find the heading controls in your editor without changing the live page yet.
What to do
Write an outline first
For a decorating-service page, the main subject might be Interior decorating, followed by Included work, Preparing the room and Requesting a quote. Read that outline without the paragraphs. If it does not make sense, reorganise the sections before adjusting their visual style.
Use levels for relationships
Give the main page subject a clear top-level heading and use lower levels for sections and subsections. A subsection under preparation should belong there logically. Avoid jumping between levels simply because one option produces a font size that looks attractive.
Keep labels informative
Replace headings such as More information with the actual question being answered when possible. Do not repeat a long search phrase in every heading. A heading should help a visitor predict the next content, including someone moving through the page without reading every paragraph.
Check structure and presentation separately
Review the published heading outline through your editor or with developer help. Then check spacing, contrast and readability visually. If a correct heading level looks wrong, adjust the styling rather than mislabelling its structural purpose to achieve a particular appearance.
What to check
- The heading outline tells a coherent story before paragraphs are read.
- Subsections belong beneath the appropriate parent section.
- Bold ordinary text is not being mistaken for a structural heading.
Sources and further reading
Platform features can change. Check the provider’s current guidance before changing a live service.