Writing Supplemental Explanations for Complex Text
Writing Supplemental Explanations for Complex Text records a distinct W3C-supported accessibility writing task while keeping implementation mechanics outside the writing guidance.
For genuinely difficult text, add supplemental explanations—such as definitions, examples, illustrations, or summaries—that clarify the primary content without distorting it.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Do not treat every long or specialist page as automatically failing; this guide is about the supplemental-content option when complexity genuinely creates a reading-level barrier.
Further guidance
Content
Add definitions, illustrations, examples, diagrams, or other explanatory material that clarifies the difficult primary text without changing its technical meaning.
Practical Application
Add targeted support—definitions, examples, illustrations, summaries, or step-by-step clarification—around genuinely difficult material while keeping the authoritative original available and avoiding changes to its meaning.
Purpose
Supplemental explanations are distinct from a simplified replacement version; use them when added context can make difficult material understandable while the original text remains available.
Reader Check
Does the added explanation resolve a specific comprehension barrier rather than merely repeat the same complex wording?
Worked Example
After a dense technical paragraph, add a short example showing how the rule applies to one ordinary case, plus a definition for the key specialist term, instead of restating the paragraph with only minor wording changes.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Understanding SC 3.1.5: Reading Level (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) · WCAG 2.2 guidance for providing lower-reading-level or supplemental explanations for complex text.