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Tag: forms

Colons at the end of labels?

Caroline Jarrett 12 May 2025 1 May 2006
Colons at the end of labels?

It’s been a long month – lots to do, lots to think about. And what, in the whole wide world, am I going to thrill you with this month? Well, my dear and loyal readers: it’s forms again. That’s whatContinue reading… Colons at the end of labels?

Matters of life and death: an investigation of “living wills” and other advance directives

Caroline Jarrett 5 June 2024 12 August 2005
Matters of life and death: an investigation of “living wills” and other advance directives

Earlier this year, we learned of the bitter legal battles over Terri Schiavo. Her husband and her parents disagreed on whether to continue to give her treatment after she collapsed into a coma seven years ago. Like Terri, I haveContinue reading… Matters of life and death: an investigation of “living wills” and other advance directives

“Easy Read” and writing for people with learning disabilities

Caroline Jarrett 23 March 2020 2 April 2005
“Easy Read” and writing for people with learning disabilities

For a long while now, I’ve been worrying about how to design forms for people with learning disabilities. It’s not been a pressing problem because frankly, a lot of the forms that I work with don’t even work for peopleContinue reading… “Easy Read” and writing for people with learning disabilities

Hooray, I’m Doing the Forms!

Caroline Jarrett 12 December 2019 12 December 2004
Hooray, I’m Doing the Forms!

Here’s a little secret that I’d like to share with you: most people just aren’t all that thrilled by forms. They don’t like filling them in, they don’t like thinking about them, and they certainly don’t like the idea ofContinue reading… Hooray, I’m Doing the Forms!

Making a better web form

Jane Matthews 12 December 2019 25 November 2004
Making a better web form

Which usability changes make the biggest difference? Invited by LoanBright to review their forms, we were surprised by some of the results. Among the changes we tested –  layout, wording of questions, addition of extra pages – the only one to make a significant differenceContinue reading… Making a better web form

The piece of HTML created just for me: Reset

Caroline Jarrett 12 December 2019 29 September 2004
The piece of HTML created just for me: Reset

HTML 2.0 appeared in 1995. At that time, I was working in usability of forms – and I still am. But I didn’t have email or an internet connection. So I think it was remarkably nice of the authors to includeContinue reading… The piece of HTML created just for me: Reset

The value of ‘other’: other countries, other choices

Jane Matthews 12 December 2019 12 May 2003
The value of ‘other’: other countries, other choices

Yesterday I was scrolling down yet another list of countries – must have been over 150 of them. There’s always a slight frisson to the game for me: will I find United Kingdom? Or perhaps I’ll be offered England, ScotlandContinue reading… The value of ‘other’: other countries, other choices

Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web

Caroline Jarrett 9 July 2023 25 October 2001
Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web

No. Don’t use a drop-down. Updated in 2023. Back in 2001, Sarah Allen and I wrote this paper, and I delivered it at the  48th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Chicago, Illinois. We had done plenty of testing ofContinue reading… Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web

Why users don’t complain about bad forms

Caroline Jarrett 24 August 2023 27 January 2001
Why users don’t complain about bad forms

Originally written in response to the Florida vote controversy in the US 2000 presidential election, here are plenty of reasons why you may never know that users are struggling with your form. This article first appeared in January 2001 in UserContinue reading… Why users don’t complain about bad forms

Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form

Caroline Jarrett 28 August 2024 10 September 2000
Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form

A version of this paper was first delivered at the 47th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Florida. Most people do not enjoy filling in a form If you want to create a usable form, the first step is to understandContinue reading… Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form

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