Content and Writing for NREL.gov
Follow these standards and best practices when writing and updating content on NREL.gov.
NREL.gov content provides users with a quick, clear path to the information they need. Content should be relevant, informative, and current. Content quality, appropriateness, and timeliness are the responsibility of the content provider and site owner.
Web Content Standards
At the highest levels of the site, content is short, concise, easily scannable, and navigable. At lower levels, technical content can be lengthier and is targeted to a specific type of user.
Use this checklist to ensure your web content meets NREL.gov standards for publishing.
- Accurately describe section and/or page content within the website
- Incorporate NREL.gov’s standard navigation labels where appropriate
- Do not duplicate existing navigation on the site
- Use ampersands (“&”) instead of “and” to save space if needed
View the approved navigation for research sites.
- Feature a brief introduction to the site’s research or topic area
- Make sense when found out of context via searches, links, or bookmarks
- Are concise and easy to scan
View the research site homepage template.
- Provide a brief introduction to content in the section
- Make sense when found out of context via searches, links, or bookmarks
- Provide links to deeper content on subpages in the section
- Do not duplicate content on a subpage
- Are concise and easy to scan
View the research landing page template.
- Make sense when found out of context via searches, links, or bookmarks
- Do not duplicate existing content on NREL.gov
- Are concise and easy to scan
View the research topic page template.
- Are concise, unique, and describes page content
- Contain keywords for search engine optimization
- Do not include acronyms or abbreviations, except for a tool topic page
- Do not include ampersands, except for R&D and RD&D
- Describes/introduces page content in 30 words or less
- Contains keywords for search engine optimization
- Does not include acronyms and abbreviations unless defined and used throughout the page
- Does not link to another website
- Are used to chunk content for easy scanning
- Use standard subheadings where appropriate, such as Publications and Contact
- Include keywords for search engine optimization if possible
- Do not include acronyms and abbreviations (except for R&D and RD&D) even if previously defined
- Follows editorial standards per NREL Style Guide
- Is concise and easy to scan
- Is organized into meaningful chunks
- Includes keywords for search engine optimization
- Defines (spells out) acronyms and abbreviations on first use and does not contain acronyms or abbreviations that are used fewer than three times on the page
- Alternates acronyms and abbreviations with their full phrases if both are important for search optimization
- Links to deeper content on other pages, if relevant
- Reflects favorably on NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy
- Is relevant, informative, and current
- Is reviewed for copyright and legal issues
Follow NREL.gov’s linking guidelines.
Include alternative (alt) text for graphics, illustrations, and photos.
Also, see photo, image, and video credits.
- Follow NREL.gov’s standards for downloadable files and data
- Link to NREL publications in the Publications Database instead of posting
- Are reviewed for copyright and legal issues
Web Content Best Practices
NREL.gov content should focus on the top tasks of its users. See Digital.gov’s plain language web writing tips to help your readers complete their tasks.
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