Descriptive Hyperlinks in MS Word

Overview

This lesson will cover how to add descriptive hyperlinks to an MS Word document. If you need a refresher on what a descriptive hyperlink is and why we use them, visit the Accessible Design Concepts micro-course. 

Core Concepts

Adding Descriptive Hyperlinks

Adding descriptive hyperlinks in Word is relatively simple. The most complex part is making sure your descriptive text is appropriate and not generalized language like "click here" or "link". 

Follow the steps below to add a descriptive hyperlink.

  1. Before adding the hyperlink, type out your descriptive text.
  2. Use your cursor to select the descriptive text. 
  3. Right-click and select 'Link'. 
  4. Type/paste the URL into the address bar and click 'Ok'.



Video Supplements

Video: Create Accessible Links in Word (2 min)

This short video from Microsoft demonstrates how to add descriptive hyperlinks to a Word document.

Create Accessible Links in Word Links to an external site.