WCAG 2.1 SC 3.1.5: Reading Level (Level AAA)
3.1.5 Reading Level (Level AAA) — what it requires, a common failure example, and how to fix it. Part of WCAG 2.1's 3.1 Readable guideline under the Understandable principle.
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3.1.5 Reading Level (Level AAA)
Readable is about making the language of your content programmatically identifiable, so screen readers pronounce it correctly and translation/reading tools work as intended. Most sites clear the Level A bar here with a single HTML attribute; the AAA criteria go further, into content clarity, that most sites won’t target.
This page is educational technical reference material, not legal advice. Meeting WCAG 2.1 does not by itself determine legal compliance with the ADA or any other law — consult qualified counsel for legal risk questions.
Plain-language explanation: After removing proper names and titles, text shouldn’t require more than a lower-secondary education reading level to understand — or an easier-to-read alternative version should be available.
Common failure: Legal or policy pages (returns, warranty terms) are written in dense legal register with no plain-language summary offered anywhere.
Remediation: Add a plain-language summary above or alongside dense legal/technical text — this doesn’t require rewriting the legal version, just supplementing it.
In this guideline — 3.1 Readable: 3.1.1 Language of Page (A) · 3.1.2 Language of Parts (AA) · 3.1.3 Unusual Words (AAA) · 3.1.4 Abbreviations (AAA) · 3.1.5 Reading Level (AAA) · 3.1.6 Pronunciation (AAA)
← Previous: 3.1.4 Abbreviations (AAA) · Next: 3.1.6 Pronunciation (AAA) →
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This page is educational content about technical accessibility practice, not legal advice. Meeting WCAG 2.1 does not guarantee legal compliance with the ADA or any other law. Consult qualified counsel for legal risk questions.
This page was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a person for accuracy before publication.