Accessibility: reading the site when the text is too small

Our readers differ in age and in eyesight. This page explains how to adjust the site to suit you, and what we have already done at our end.

Making the text larger

The layout is built so that text can be enlarged without breaking it — nothing runs off the edge or overlaps.

iPhone and iPad: Settings → Display & Brightness → Text Size. Or tap “AA” on the left of the Safari address bar and pick a zoom level — it is remembered for this site only.

Android: Settings → Display → Font size. In Chrome: three dots → Settings → Accessibility → Text scaling.

Computer: Ctrl and “+” (Cmd and “+” on a Mac). Ctrl and “0” restores the normal size.

If you have low vision

Body text is dark grey on a light background, above the WCAG AA contrast threshold. We deliberately darkened the small print when a check returned 4.39 against a required 4.5 — it is now 4.73.

On an iPhone, Smart Invert helps: Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Invert Colours → Smart Invert. Photographs stay normal.

If you would rather listen than read, our radio reads the publication’s material aloud around the clock.

Screen readers

Pages follow the rules: one first-level heading each, headings in order, text descriptions on images, labels on buttons and fields. Rate tables and calculators are labelled so a screen reader names what it is reading.

The site works without a mouse: Tab moves between links and fields, Enter opens. A visible outline shows where you are.

What we do not do

No pop-ups over the text, no sound that starts by itself, no flashing blocks. Video never plays until you press play.

If something will not read

Tell us — these things are usually fixed quickly. Name the page, your device and what went wrong. The address and form are on our contact page.