{"id":327,"date":"2014-07-25T20:09:57","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T20:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/writershandbook\/?post_type=chapter&p=327"},"modified":"2014-07-25T21:11:01","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T21:11:01","slug":"13-5-using-web-links-effectively","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-styleguide\/chapter\/13-5-using-web-links-effectively\/","title":{"raw":"13.5 Using Web Links Effectively","rendered":"13.5 Using Web Links Effectively"},"content":{"raw":" \r\n
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13.5<\/span> Using Web Links Effectively<\/h2>\r\n
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\t
  1. Know what a link is, what a typical link looks like, and what the purposes for links are.<\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Be aware of how you can create links in different situations.<\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Recognize whether a link has longevity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\nLinks are placed within digital texts to reroute readers to other locations. They have a wide range of purposes based on where and why they are used. You can use links to organize a page, to save space on a page, to add interest to your text, to incorporate someone else\u2019s ideas into your work, to provide conveniences for your reader, and to complement text in other creative ways. Most often, links are in blue font that is underlined once or twice. You can, however, choose to present links in other ways, such as by using buttons, images, or nonunderlined text. Your main consideration when making a style choice for a link is that it be immediately recognizable as a link. Here are some common types of links:\r\n
    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    Where Link Is Used<\/th>\r\nWhy Link Is Used<\/th>\r\nExamples<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
    In a Microsoft Word file<\/td>\r\nTo quickly move to other parts of the file, such as from a table of contents<\/td>\r\nChapter 1 \"Writing to Think and Writing to Learn\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    In a Microsoft Word file<\/td>\r\nTo open a website<\/td>\r\nhttp:\/\/www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    In a Microsoft Word file<\/td>\r\nTo open an e-mail window with the linked e-mail in the \u201cTo\u201d line<\/td>\r\npwilson@swbell.net\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nSend Paul a message<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    In a blog<\/td>\r\nTo alert readers to related information that is on other websites<\/td>\r\nhttp:\/\/www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org\r\n\r\nOR\r\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\r\n(an image or photo alone or with words)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    In an e-mail<\/td>\r\nTo open a website, video, data file, or PowerPoint<\/td>\r\nhttp:\/\/www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9WXpUjKexwk\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nJanesData.docx\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nwildday.pptx<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    On a website<\/td>\r\nTo lead readers to other parts of the website<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\r\nAbout Us<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    On a website<\/td>\r\nTo alert readers to related information at other addresses<\/td>\r\nhttp:\/\/www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9WXpUjKexwk<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\nYou can typically copy and paste a web address or an e-mail address into your main text to make it a hyperlink<\/span><\/span> automatically, or you can link to a website using the Insert menu of your word processing program. You can choose to insert a bookmark<\/span><\/span> (e.g., internal links from one section to another section of the same file) instead of a hyperlink. Whether linking to a website, an e-mail address, another part of the same document, or another file entirely, you will be given the option of naming the link so that it appears the way you want it in your main text. Remember that a link to another file will not work for outside readers unless the file to which you are linking is actually on the web.\r\n\r\nWhen you choose to create a link to a website, use your best judgment to determine if the link will remain intact for the duration of your need. In other words, if you are putting a link in a paper to turn in for a class assignment, you need to feel relatively certain that the link will remain active until your paper is graded. On the other hand, if you are inserting a link into a website or a blog you are producing or managing, you will need to be reasonably certain that the link will be live for a longer period. In such situations, you should periodically make sure the link is still active. Dead links<\/span><\/span> frustrate readers, and they reflect badly on your website\u2019s credibility and currency.\r\n
    \r\n

    Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n\t
    • Links are used in digital text to reroute readers to other locations. You should make links very obvious so readers see them easily. Links are typically blue, underlined text but can be text in other formats, buttons, images, and other options.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • You can create many links simply by copying and pasting a web address or an e-mail address into your text. Within a software application, you will sometimes have to use the software\u2019s method of link formation.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • You should do your best to make sure you are not using dead links. Try to choose links that will last as long as you need to use them. Check that a link works when you initially use it. Then, in long-term-use situations such as a website, periodically check that your links are still good.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
      \r\n

      Exercises<\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n\t
      1. Open a new file on your computer and create these three kinds of links: an internal file link (or bookmark), a website link, and an e-mail link. Make one of the links in standard blue, underlined format, one in a different text format, and one in an image format.<\/li>\r\n\t
      2. Find at least three links that you could place in each column of this table.\r\n
        \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
        Links That Will Likely Only Be Good for a Short Time, Such as Days or Weeks<\/th>\r\nLinks That Will Likely Be Good for up to a Year<\/th>\r\nLinks That Will Likely Be Good on a Long-Term Basis, Such as for Years<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
        <\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
        <\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
        <\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n ","rendered":"

         <\/p>\n

        \n

        13.5<\/span> Using Web Links Effectively<\/h2>\n
        \n

        Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. Know what a link is, what a typical link looks like, and what the purposes for links are.<\/li>\n
        2. Be aware of how you can create links in different situations.<\/li>\n
        3. Recognize whether a link has longevity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

          Links are placed within digital texts to reroute readers to other locations. They have a wide range of purposes based on where and why they are used. You can use links to organize a page, to save space on a page, to add interest to your text, to incorporate someone else\u2019s ideas into your work, to provide conveniences for your reader, and to complement text in other creative ways. Most often, links are in blue font that is underlined once or twice. You can, however, choose to present links in other ways, such as by using buttons, images, or nonunderlined text. Your main consideration when making a style choice for a link is that it be immediately recognizable as a link. Here are some common types of links:<\/p>\n

          \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Where Link Is Used<\/th>\nWhy Link Is Used<\/th>\nExamples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
          In a Microsoft Word file<\/td>\nTo quickly move to other parts of the file, such as from a table of contents<\/td>\nChapter 1 “Writing to Think and Writing to Learn”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          In a Microsoft Word file<\/td>\nTo open a website<\/td>\nhttp:\/\/www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          In a Microsoft Word file<\/td>\nTo open an e-mail window with the linked e-mail in the \u201cTo\u201d line<\/td>\npwilson@swbell.net<\/p>\n

          OR<\/p>\n

          Send Paul a message<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

          In a blog<\/td>\nTo alert readers to related information that is on other websites<\/td>\nhttp:\/\/www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org<\/p>\n

          OR<\/p>\n

          \"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

          (an image or photo alone or with words)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

          In an e-mail<\/td>\nTo open a website, video, data file, or PowerPoint<\/td>\nhttp:\/\/www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org<\/p>\n

          OR<\/p>\n