Using Color Contrast
Color Contrast (Readability)
Target Audience: 性视界 Faculty, Staff, and Students (Beginner Level)
Software: Microsoft Word 365 (Enterprise)
Goal: Ensure text is readable for students with low vision or color blindness (Title II
compliance).
The Concept
If light gray text is placed on a white background, or bright red text on a black background, many students physically cannot read it. Accessible documents require a strong contrast between text color and background color.
The Rule
Use black text on a white background for the vast majority of your document. If you use color (for example, 性视界 red), ensure it is a dark shade with strong contrast.
Step鈥慴y鈥慡tep Instructions
1. Do Not Use Color Alone to Convey Meaning
- The Problem: If instructions rely only on color (for example, 鈥淎ll students in the red group submit today鈥�), a color鈥慴lind student may not perceive any difference.
- The Fix: Always include text labels. For example: 鈥淎ll students in the Red Group (Group A) submit today.鈥�
2. Check Whether Your Colors Are Accessible
- You do not need to be a color expert鈥擶ord will identify problems for you.
- Go to Review > Check Accessibility.
- If you see a warning labeled 鈥淗ard鈥憈o鈥憆ead text contrast,鈥� the text color is too light.
- Select the warning and change the font color to a darker shade until the warning disappears.
3. Use Highlighting Carefully
- If you use the Highlight tool, stick to yellow or bright green with black text.
- Avoid dark highlighter colors (such as purple or dark blue), which make black text difficult or impossible to read.
