Word

Microsoft Word is a word processing application that lets you create, edit and share electronic documents.

As part of the Office 365 suite, Microsoft Word is free for Clemson faculty, staff and students. This guide applies to Word for Microsoft 365. An understanding of accessibility standards and fundamental concepts is a prerequisite for this guide.

Support Guides

• Download Word for Microsoft 365
• Check your Microsoft Word version
• Converting older documents to a new format

Accessibility Checker

Microsoft products have a built-in Accessibility Checker that can remain open throughout the authoring process to check-as-you-go (recommended for efficient authoring) or opened later to review a final draft.

Automated tools cannot detect all accessibility issues. Some elements require manual review:

• Color contrast: The Accessibility Checker will detect basic contrast issues, but may miss poor contrast if text is layered on another object. Review color contrast where text is layered on an image or filled shape.
• Color reliance: Avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning. Review the document for any instances of color reliance.
• Structure: Review document elements like headings, lists and tables and confirm that appropriate styles are applied (heading styles, programmatic lists, table headers, etc.)
• Descriptive links: Use descriptive link text to help readers understand and navigate content.
• Alternative text: While the Accessibility Checker can alert authors to empty or AI-generated alternative text for images, it cannot verify accuracy. In its Inspection Results, the Accessibility Checker will indicate where Intelligent Services are used and prompt authors to review auto-generated alt text.

Styles

Using Microsoft Word's Styles, authors can apply accessible, customizable formatting to their documents. The Styles gallery is available in the Home tab.

Styles are used throughout the following guide to apply accessibility techniques in Word.