Using Headings
Every section on a page should contain a heading. The headings serve a few purposes.
- Divide sections of content that have different topics.
- Allow users to more easily scan content.
- Provide better search engine optimization.
Headings are acceptable at the top of your page's content. However, do not simply repeat the title of the page. Your page's title is already on the page quite a few times, so use this available space for more important content. Here are some additional items to be aware of when using headings:
- Do not use exclamation marks.
- Keep your headings short.
Available Heading Options
While editing a page you will notice there are five options for creating headings. However, there are only two that we are allowing for use on your pages.
This is Heading 3
This is Heading 4
The first, Heading 3, serves as the main heading to use for your page. You should only use this for separating your main ideas on the page.
Heading 4 can be used for subheadings below a Heading 3 as well as making sentences that stand out for greater impact. The impact sentences should be a single line and not part or a paragraph.
An example of the proper use of the headings is displayed below.
Your First Section Starts Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec venenatis sapien a velit ornare mollis. Ut et volutpat mauris. Phasellus placerat est sit amet leo semper pretium. Duis porttitor augue eget felis placerat, eget pretium est vulputate. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Nam ante sem, pulvinar ut enim in, ultricies eleifend arcu. Quisque ac augue magna.
Your Sub-Section Heading Is Here
Donec tempor nunc vel erat placerat, in sagittis massa sagittis. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Pellentesque dictum varius placerat. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Cras massa lorem, scelerisque vel viverra at, suscipit rhoncus nulla.
Your impact sentence should be just like this with proper capitalization and punctuation for a sentence.
Your Second Section Starts Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec venenatis sapien a velit ornare mollis. Ut et volutpat mauris. Phasellus placerat est sit amet leo semper pretium. Duis porttitor augue eget felis placerat, eget pretium est vulputate. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Nam ante sem, pulvinar ut enim in, ultricies eleifend arcu. Quisque ac augue magna.
Capitalization
All headings must be treated like publication titles for capitalization. Below you will find some very helpful guidelines for dealing with titles.
- The first and last words are always capitalized, even if fewer than five letters.
- Words over five letters are always capitalized.
- Verbs are always capitalized, even if fewer than five letters.
- Nouns are always capitalized, even if fewer than five letters.
- Unless they are the first or last words of a title, these are never capitalized: articles: a, an, the; conjunctions: and, but, or, not; prepositions that are fewer than five letters long: at, by, for, from, in, into, of, off, on, onto, out, over (unless used as a verb), up, with; infinitives: to; "as" is never capitalized; o'clock.
- These words are capitalized, even though they are fewer than five letters: also, be, if, than, that, thus, when.
Formatting Frequently Asked Questions
Your department may require a frequently asked questions page. If so, then there are a few guidelines to follow.
- All questions should be capitalized like a sentence where the first word, acronyms, and proper nouns are capitalized.
- The question should be in the Heading 4 style.
- The answer should have the Menu style applied for proper indentation and spacing.
Is this the proper format for a question?
Questions
The Media and Communications Office is here to help. If at any point you need assistance with the content of your pages, feel free to contact Goldin Doles at (253) 573-2506 or via
email.