No abbr; expand on first mention
no-abbr-expand-on-first-mention
Don’t use `<abbr>`; expand on first mention. Screen-reader support for `<abbr>` is limited. Write “Australian Football League (AFL)” then “AFL”. Dual-cite Canada abbreviations (widest-audience test); GOLD names the element ban + first-mention pattern.
Description
Don’t use `<abbr>`; expand on first mention. Screen-reader support for `<abbr>` is limited. Write the full phrase with the short form in parentheses, then use the short form later — for example “Australian Football League (AFL)” then “AFL”. Dual-cite Canada abbreviations (widest-audience test); GOLD names the element ban plus first-mention pattern. Pass when first mention is expanded, later uses short form, and there is no `<abbr>`; fail when `<abbr>` is used or the short form appears first with no expansion.
When to use
Body copy introduces abbreviations or acronyms for users.
Not when
Already-expanded short forms used after a proper first mention.
Agent hint
Expand on first mention with short form in parentheses; never use <abbr>.
First mention is expanded with the short form in parentheses; later mentions use the short form; no `<abbr>`.
`<abbr>` is used, or the short form appears first with no expansion.
Citations