Underline links only no italics emphasis

underline-links-only-no-italics-emphasis

Underline = links only; no italics for emphasis — italics are hard for dyslexia; use bold sparingly. Don’t combine underline+bold except the topic-page hyperlink style.

Description

On Canada.ca, underline means links only. Do not use italics for emphasis — italics are hard for dyslexia — and use bold sparingly instead. Do not combine underline and bold except the named topic-page hyperlink style. Apply when styling body text, links, and inline emphasis. Fail underlined non-links, italics used for emphasis, or underline-plus-bold on ordinary text outside that topic-page style.

When to use

Styling Canada.ca body text, links, and inline emphasis.

Not when

The named topic-page hyperlink style that deliberately pairs underline and bold.

Agent hint

Underline links only; skip italics for emphasis; bold sparingly.

Pass

Underline is only for links; emphasis is not italics; underline+bold only on the named topic-page hyperlink style.

Fail

Underlined non-links; italics used for emphasis; underline+bold on ordinary text.

Citations

Canada.ca — Content Style Guide; Typography

https://design.canada.ca/style-guide/index.html