3.1.4 Abbreviations
Level AAA · added in WCAG 2.0
Give people a way to find the expanded form or meaning of each abbreviation, including acronyms and initialisms. Spelling it out on first use is the simplest way. This is a level AAA criterion.
Who it helps
People with cognitive or reading disabilities may not recognize an abbreviation or work out its meaning. Screen reader users also benefit, since some abbreviations are read as odd words or letter strings.
How to meet it
- Write the full form the first time an abbreviation appears, followed by the short form in parentheses.
- Wrap later uses in an abbr element with a title giving the full form, as a supplement.
- Link abbreviations to a glossary when they appear across many pages.
- If the same abbreviation means different things on one page, expand each meaning where it's used.
- Level AAA isn't required by most laws or policies, which point to AA. It's still worth meeting, and expanding on first use costs almost nothing.
Examples
<p>Bring your form to the DMV by Friday.</p><p>Bring your form to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by Friday.</p>
<p>The DMV opens at 8 a.m.</p><p>Most <abbr title="Department of Motor Vehicles">DMV</abbr> offices
close at noon on Saturday.</p>Can a scanner detect this?
No
axe-core has no rule for this criterion, because it can't tell whether a word is an abbreviation or whether its meaning is explained nearby. You need to read the content and check that each abbreviation is expanded or linked.
No automated rule tests this criterion. Check it by hand.
Common mistakes
- Relying only on the abbr title, which many screen readers don't announce and touch users can't see.
- Expanding an abbreviation in the footer or a different page instead of where it first appears.
- Skipping well-known abbreviations in your field that your readers may not know.
- Using the same abbreviation for two different terms on one page without explaining each.
Related criteria
Check your own page
See which automated WCAG checks your page fails, with the failing elements and how to fix them.
Reviewed November 2, 2026