Editing for Hypertext

Rick Ells

Preparing text to appear on a Web page is a different ball game from any other editing and formatting you might have done.

• When your page pops up on a browser, the typical Web wanderer keeps his/her finger poised over the mouse button, ready to leap elsewhere if your page looks boring or irrelevant.
• Most people only visually sample a page - taking in about twenty percent of what is there before deciding whether to read the rest or move on. Imagine your readers as teenagers on skateboards rolling past store windows.
• Most people are not very excited about reading large amounts of text on line. They are likely to skim over your carefully worded (and lengthy) explanations, hunting for the "sound byte" that answers their question.
• The Web is a visual medium. Readers expect visual clues about what your page has to offer and how its information is organized.

Of course, the first step in preparing your text is careful, conventional editing (correct spelling, consistent voice, consistent terminology, etc.) Sloppy writing and editing is just plain irritating to read online - remember that when people find your Web page irritating, "click", off they go.

The next step is to aggressively edit your text to make it simpler, clearer, and more likely to quickly meet your readers' needs. Think succinct.

Finally, use headings, bulleted lists, numbered lists, graphics, horizontal rules, and other visual clues to help make the structure of your information more apparent to the reader. For example, a list of items buried in a lengthy paragraph can be hard to spot. Format that same list as a bulleted list and the reader can quickly spot it as a list and can more efficently scan each item in the list.

Of course, you will have some pages that should not be put into hypertext style. You may have research papers that are supposed to be presented in a specific, conventional format. Or perhaps you have an essay you want students to print out and read.

The following example shows how a lengthy, wordy text can be reformatted to make it easier to interpret.

Example of Hypertext Style

Hippocratic Oath

SWEAR by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation- to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!

Hippocratic Oath Formatted To Show Structure Formatted by R. Ells

I SWEAR by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, According to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation: To reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents To share my substance with him Relieve his necessities if required To look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers To teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation That by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!

Hippocratic Oath Edited For Brevity Edited by R. Ells

I SWEAR by all the gods and goddesses, that, According to my ability and judgment, I will ... Honor my teacher To share with my teacher and his family Help meet my teacher's needs Help my teacher's children learn the medical arts if they desire I will ... Teach these arts to my family, my teacher's family and to others bound by this oath but to no others. Follow a life that benefits my patients and avoids what might harm them. Give no deadly medicine, including for abortion. Live a pure and holy life practicing medicine. Leave treating kidney stones to others. Enter others' homes only to help the sick and will avoid mischief, corruption, or seduction. Respect the privacy of those I visit. While I keep this Oath, may I be respected. If I break it, may I fail.

Hippocrates would probably not appreciate the "edited for brevity" version.