Re: underlined links

by Ryan Fischer <fischer(at)email.unc.edu>

 Date:  Tue, 08 Dec 1998 00:00:02 -0500
 To:  Pam Shorey <palema(at)downcity.net>,
hwg-theory(at)mail.hwg.org
 In-Reply-To:  downcity
  todo: View Thread, Original
At 10:58 PM 12/7/98 -0500, Pam Shorey wrote:
>I have a style question. What accounts for the apparent
>trend to remove underlining from links? Isn't this rather
>like removing quotes from a quotation - ie, removing a
>customary visual cue?

In a word or two, they're tacky!  At least, that's what I used to think.
When I first found out there was a way to get rid of them, I did and never
turned back (for a while, anyway).  I even disabled underlining of links
the first time I used NN3.  Of course, they (underlines) have their purpose
in that they denote what text is a link.  Come to think of it, now, for the
most part, I appreciate when the author of a page leaves them alone.  They
make it easier for me.  When I decide get rid of them, I still make sure
it's clear that text is usually a link.  I make sure it's font-weight is
increased, and I use the hover pseudoclass to indicate this even more,
usually by changing its color, text-decoration, or background-color.

You see how I vacillated above?  It was an account of back when I first
started using the web compared to where I stand now, especially with that I
know.  So in short, I guess an author's decision to remove underlining from
links is neither bad nor good, as long as it is informed.

-- 
 -Ryan Fischer <fischer(at)email.unc.edu> ICQ UIN - 595003

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