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Alt Text: What to Write

nngroup.com/articles/write-alt

Did you know that you should end your alt text with a period?

"End alt text with a period, even if it isn’t a full sentence. The period ensures that the screen reader pauses after reading the alt text."

Nielsen Norman GroupAlt Text: What to WriteImages are decorative, functional, or informative. Skip alt text for decorative. Describe the action for functional. Convey the message for informative.

@cybeardjm a few dozen more posts like this and I might be marginally competent at making alt text. Next post on the topic, are there any goofy keys I shouldn’t use because it freaks out a screen reader? Any other weird things like how it paces the words or will it do a funny accent if something is in the wrong bracket/parenthesis?

DJM (freelance for hire)

@Buthowhighishigh Am not able to answer, but @stefan might have leads to answer this.
I'd say, the KISS method is the best way: Keep It Simple, Stupid! It works all the time ;-)
But, sure, outside of English, what about special characters (e.g. I know many/most/all emojis should be avoided)?

@stefan @cybeardjm @Buthowhighishigh

maybe slightly OT, but I was told once that using those (ノಠ益ಠ) 🄵🄰🄽🄲🅈 𝓤𝓣𝓕 𝓯𝓸𝓷𝓽 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓼🎀 ★·.·`¯´·.✴ for your username can be a right old PITA for screen reader users.

@axwax @stefan @Buthowhighishigh Indeed - not sure if many use them for alt descriptions though...