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Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.3 | Understanding WCAG 2.0
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"><head><title> Understanding Success Criterion 3.1.3 | Understanding WCAG 2.0 </title><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-idioms.html" /><link media="print" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="print.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="additional.css"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://www.w3.org/StyleSheets/TR/2021/W3C-NOTE"/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="slicenav.css"/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no"/></head><body class="slices toc-inline"><div id="masthead"><p class="logo"><a href="https://www.w3.org/"><img width="72" height="48" alt="W3C" src="https://www.w3.org/StyleSheets/TR/2021/logos/W3C"/></a></p><p class="collectiontitle"><a href="Overview.html">Understanding WCAG 2.0</a></p></div><div id="skipnav"><p class="skipnav"><a href="#maincontent">Skip to Content (Press Enter)</a></p></div><div class="mainbody"><a name="top"> </a><!-- TOP NAVIGATION BAR --><ul id="navigation"><li><strong><a href="Overview.html#contents" title="Table of Contents">Contents</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="intro.html" title="Introduction to Understanding WCAG 2.0"><abbr title="Introduction">Intro</abbr></a></strong></li><li><a title="Understanding SC 3.1.2 [Language of Parts]" href="meaning-other-lang-id.html"><strong>Previous: </strong>SC 3.1.2 [Language of Parts]</a></li><li><a title="Understanding SC 3.1.4 [Abbreviations]" href="meaning-located.html"><strong>Next: </strong>SC 3.1.4 [Abbreviations]</a></li></ul><div class="navtoc"><p>On this page:</p><ul id="navbar"><li><a href="#meaning-idioms-intent-head">Intent</a></li><li><a href="#meaning-idioms-examples-head">Examples</a></li><li><a href="#meaning-idioms-resources-head">Related Resources</a></li><li><a href="#meaning-idioms-techniques-head">Techniques & Failures</a></li><li><a href="#key-terms">Key terms</a></li></ul></div> <div class="skiptarget"><a id="maincontent">-</a></div><h1><a name="meaning-idioms" id="meaning-idioms"> </a><strong>Unusual Words</strong><span class="screenreader">:</span><br/>Understanding <abbr title="Success Criterion">SC</abbr> 3.1.3</h1><blockquote class="scquote"><div> <p class="sctxt"><strong class="sc-handle"><a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#meaning-idioms">3.1.3</a> Unusual Words:</strong> A <a href="#mechanismdef" class="termref">mechanism</a> is available for identifying specific definitions of words or phrases <a href="#unusual-restricteddef" class="termref">used in an unusual or restricted way</a>, including <a href="#idiomsdef" class="termref">idioms</a> and <a href="#jargondef" class="termref">jargon</a>. (Level AAA) </p></div></blockquote><div class="intent"><h2 id="meaning-idioms-intent-head" class="section"> Intent of this Success Criterion </h2><p>Certain disabilities make it difficult to understand nonliteral word usage and specialized words or usage. Certain disabilities make it difficult to understand figurative language or specialized usage. Providing such mechanisms is vital for these audiences. Specialized information intended for non-specialist readers is encouraged to satisfy this Success Criterion, even when claiming only Single-A or Double-A conformance. </p><div class="benefits"><h3 id="meaning-idioms-190-head" class="div3head"> Specific Benefits of Success Criterion 3.1.3: </h3><p>This Success Criterion may help people with cognitive, language and learning disabilities who:</p><ul><li><p>have difficulty decoding words</p></li><li><p>have difficulty understanding words and phrases</p></li><li><p>have difficulty using context to aid understanding</p></li></ul><p>It would also help people with visual disabilities who:</p><ul><li><p>lose context when zoomed-in with a screen magnifier</p></li></ul></div></div><div class="div3"><h2 id="meaning-idioms-examples-head" class="section"> Examples of Success Criterion 3.1.3</h2><ul><li><p> <strong>Text that includes a definition for a word used in an unusual way.</strong> </p><p>Organize the list or "cascade" of dictionaries and other resources so that the definition search will find the intended definitions instead of displaying definitions from other sources in the "cascade." (The "cascade" lists the dictionaries and other reference materials in the order most likely to bring up the right definition. This controls the order to follow when searching for definitions.)</p></li><li><p> <strong>Including definitions in the glossary.</strong> </p><p>WCAG 2.0 uses the word "text" in a specific way. Thus, when the word "text" is used within WCAG 2.0 it is linked to the definition of "text" provided in a glossary within the same Web page.</p></li><li><p> <strong>The specific definition of a word is provided at the bottom of the page.</strong> </p><p>The internal link from the word to the corresponding definition is also provided within the page. </p></li></ul></div><div class="resources"><h2 id="meaning-idioms-resources-head" class="section"> Related Resources </h2><p>Resources are for information purposes only, no endorsement implied.</p><div class="note"><p class="prefix"><em>Note: </em>The inclusion of a product or vendor name in the list below does not constitute an endorsement by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group or the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium. This list is provided simply for convenience and to give users an idea of what resources may be available</p></div><ul><li><p>Free bilingual dictionaries for a number of languages are available from the <a href="http://www.freedict.org/">Freedict.org Web site</a>. The dictionaries are of uneven quality and size as noted on the site. Retrieved 9 April 2005.</p></li><li><p> <a href="http://www.stars21.com/index.html?lang=en&pname=african">The WorldStar Free Dictionaries, Translators and Search Engines</a> site provides access to free on-line dictionaries and search engines in many languages. Retrieved 18 November 2005.</p></li><li><p>More dictionaries are at <a href="http://www.yourdictionary.com">your dictionary</a>, <a href="http://www.freelang.com">freelang.com</a> (in English, Spanish and French!) and many other places.</p></li></ul></div><div class="div3"><h2 id="meaning-idioms-techniques-head" class="section"> Techniques and Failures for Success Criterion 3.1.3 - Unusual Words</h2><p>Each numbered item in this section represents a technique or combination of techniques that the <acronym title="Web Content Accessibility Guidelines">WCAG</acronym> Working Group deems sufficient for meeting this Success Criterion. However, it is not necessary to use these particular techniques. For information on using other techniques, see <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2023/NOTE-UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20-20230921/understanding-techniques.html">Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria</a>, particularly the "Other Techniques" section.</p><div class="boxed"><h3 id="meaning-idioms-191-head" class="div3head"> Sufficient Techniques </h3><p class="instructions"><strong>Instructions:</strong> Select the situation below that matches your content. Each situation includes techniques or combinations of techniques that are known and documented to be sufficient for that situation. </p><div><h4><a name="meaning-idioms-situation-40-head" id="meaning-idioms-situation-40-head"> </a>Situation A: If the word or phrase has a unique meaning within the Web page:</h4> <ol class="enumar"><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G101" class="tech-ref">G101: Providing the definition of a word or phrase used in an unusual or restricted way</a> for the first occurrence of the word or phrase in a Web page using one of the following techniques: </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G55" class="tech-ref">G55: Linking to definitions</a> </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H40" class="tech-ref">H40: Using description lists</a> (HTML) </p></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H60" class="tech-ref">H60: Using the link element to link to a glossary</a> (HTML) </p></li></ul></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G112" class="tech-ref">G112: Using inline definitions</a> </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H54" class="tech-ref">H54: Using the dfn element to identify the defining instance of a word</a> (HTML) </p></li></ul></li></ul></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G101" class="tech-ref">G101: Providing the definition of a word or phrase used in an unusual or restricted way</a> for each occurrence of the word or phrase in a Web page using one of the following techniques: </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G55" class="tech-ref">G55: Linking to definitions</a> </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H40" class="tech-ref">H40: Using description lists</a> (HTML) </p></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H60" class="tech-ref">H60: Using the link element to link to a glossary</a> (HTML) </p></li></ul></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G62" class="tech-ref">G62: Providing a glossary</a> </p></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G70" class="tech-ref">G70: Providing a function to search an online dictionary</a> </p></li></ul></li></ol></div><div><h4><a name="meaning-idioms-situation-41-head" id="meaning-idioms-situation-41-head"> </a>Situation B: If the word or phrase means different things within the same Web page:</h4> <ol class="enumar"><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G101" class="tech-ref">G101: Providing the definition of a word or phrase used in an unusual or restricted way</a> for each occurrence of the word or phrase in a Web page using one of the following techniques: </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G55" class="tech-ref">G55: Linking to definitions</a> </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H40" class="tech-ref">H40: Using description lists</a> (HTML) </p></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H60" class="tech-ref">H60: Using the link element to link to a glossary</a> (HTML) </p></li></ul></li><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/G112" class="tech-ref">G112: Using inline definitions</a> </p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-WCAG20-TECHS-20161007/H54" class="tech-ref">H54: Using the dfn element to identify the defining instance of a word</a> (HTML) </p></li></ul></li></ul></li></ol></div></div><div class="boxed"><h3 id="meaning-idioms-192-head" class="div3head"> Additional Techniques (Advisory) for 3.1.3</h3><p>Although not required for conformance, the following additional techniques should be considered in order to make content more accessible. Not all techniques can be used or would be effective in all situations.</p><ul><li><p>Using markup and visual formatting to help users recognize words that have special meaning (future link)</p></li><li><p>Providing a voice-enabled dictionary search so that users who have difficulty typing or spelling can speak the word whose definition they need (future link)</p></li><li><p>Providing a sign language dictionary to help users who are deaf find the necessary definitions (future link)</p></li><li><p>Providing a mechanism for finding definitions for all words in text content (future link)</p></li><li><p>Providing a mechanism to determine the meaning of each word or phrase in text content (future link)</p></li><li><p>Avoiding unusual foreign words (future link) </p></li><li><p>Using a series of dictionaries in cascading fashion to provide meanings (future link) </p></li></ul></div><div class="boxed"><h3 id="meaning-idioms-193-head" class="div3head"> Common Failures for <abbr title="Success Criterion">SC</abbr> 3.1.3</h3><p>The following are common mistakes that are considered failures of Success Criterion 3.1.3 by the <acronym title="Web Content Accessibility Guidelines">WCAG</acronym> Working Group.</p><p>(No failures currently documented)</p></div></div><div class="div3"><h2 id="key-terms" class="terms">Key Terms</h2><dl class="keyterms"><dt class="label"><a name="idiomsdef" id="idiomsdef"> </a>idiom</dt><dd><p>phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the meaning of the individual words and the specific words cannot be changed without losing the meaning</p><div class="note"><p class="prefix"><em>Note: </em>idioms cannot be translated directly, word for word, without losing their (cultural or language-dependent) meaning. </p></div><div class="example"><p class="prefix"><em>Example 1: </em>In English, "spilling the beans" means "revealing a secret." However, "knocking over the beans" or "spilling the vegetables" does not mean the same thing.</p><p class="prefix"><em>Example 2: </em>In Japanese, the phrase "<span lang="jp" xml:lang="jp">銇曘仒銈掓姇銇掋倠</span>" literally translates into "he throws a spoon," but it means that there is nothing he can do and finally he gives up. </p><p class="prefix"><em>Example 3: </em>In Dutch, "<span lang="ne" xml:lang="ne">Hij ging met de kippen op stok</span>" literally translates into "He went to roost with the chickens," but it means that he went to bed early.</p></div></dd><dt class="label"><a name="jargondef" id="jargondef"> </a>jargon</dt><dd><p>words used in a particular way by people in a particular field</p><div class="example"><p class="prefix"><em>Example: </em>The word StickyKeys is jargon from the field of assistive technology/accessibility.</p></div></dd><dt class="label"><a name="mechanismdef" id="mechanismdef"> </a>mechanism</dt><dd><p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#processdef" class="termref">process</a> or technique for achieving a result</p><div class="note"><p class="prefix"><em>Note 1: </em>The mechanism may be explicitly provided in the content, or may be <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#reliedupondef" class="termref">relied upon</a> to be provided by either the platform or by <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#useragentdef" class="termref">user agents</a>, including <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#atdef" class="termref">assistive technologies</a>.</p><p class="prefix"><em>Note 2: </em>The mechanism needs to meet all success criteria for the conformance level claimed. </p></div></dd><dt class="label"><a name="unusual-restricteddef" id="unusual-restricteddef"> </a>used in an unusual or restricted way</dt><dd><p>words used in such a way that requires users to know exactly which definition to apply in order to understand the content correctly</p><div class="example"><p class="prefix"><em>Example: </em>The term "gig" means something different if it occurs in a discussion of music concerts than it does in article about computer hard drive space, but the appropriate definition can be determined from context. By contrast, the word "text" is used in a very specific way in WCAG 2.0, so a definition is supplied in the glossary.</p></div></dd></dl></div><!-- BOTTOM NAVIGATION BAR --><ul id="navigationbottom"><li><strong><a href="#top">Top</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="Overview.html#contents" title="Table of Contents">Contents</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="intro.html" title="Introduction to Understanding WCAG 2.0"><abbr title="Introduction">Intro</abbr></a></strong></li><li><a title="Understanding SC 3.1.2 [Language of Parts]" href="meaning-other-lang-id.html"><strong>Previous: </strong>SC 3.1.2 [Language of Parts]</a></li><li><a title="Understanding SC 3.1.4 [Abbreviations]" href="meaning-located.html"><strong>Next: </strong>SC 3.1.4 [Abbreviations]</a></li></ul></div><div class="footer"><p class="copyright">This Web page is part of <a href="Overview.html">Understanding WCAG 2.0: A guide to understanding and implementing WCAG 2.0</a> (see the <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-idioms.html">latest version of this document</a>). The entire document is also available as a <a href="complete.html">single HTML file</a>. See the <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag20">The WCAG 2.0 Documents</a> for an explanation of how this document fits in with other Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 documents. To send public comments, please follow the <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/comments/">Instructions for Commenting on WCAG 2.0 Documents</a>. </p><p class="copyright"><a href="https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Copyright">Copyright</a> 漏 2023 <a href="https://www.w3.org/">World Wide Web Consortium</a>. <abbr title="World Wide Web Consortium">W3C</abbr><sup>庐</sup> <a href="https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#Legal_Disclaimer">liability</a>, <a href="https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/ipr-notice#W3C_Trademarks">trademark</a> and <a href="https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/copyright-documents">document use</a> rules apply.</p></div></body></html>