Accessibility

Last updated: 6 November 2026

Our commitment

These are reference works, and a reference work that some readers cannot use is not doing its job. We want this website to be usable by as many people as possible, including readers using screen readers, magnification, speech input, keyboard-only navigation, or who need text at a larger size.

What we aim for

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 at level AA. That is the standard most widely used to judge whether a website is accessible, and it is the standard we hold ourselves to.

What we have done

• Every page can be reached and operated with a keyboard alone.
• Headings describe the structure of each page, so a screen reader can move through it.
• Text and background colours are chosen to meet contrast requirements.
• Images that carry meaning have text alternatives, and decorative images are hidden from screen readers.
• Form fields have visible labels, and required fields are announced as required.
• The site reflows for small screens and for text enlarged up to 200 per cent.
• Animation is reduced automatically for readers whose system asks for reduced motion.

Where we fall short

We would rather say so than pretend otherwise.

• Some cover artwork reproduces decorative lettering that a screen reader cannot read from the image. The same information is always present in the surrounding text.
• Sample pages shown from inside a book are images of typeset pages and are not machine readable. If you need a sample in an accessible format, ask us and we will send one.
• Our digital editions are produced in standard formats whose accessibility depends partly on the reading application you use.

If something does not work

Tell us. Reports from readers are the fastest way we find out what is wrong. Write to us through our contact page, describing the page, what you were trying to do, and the assistive technology or browser you were using.

We aim to reply within five working days. If you need information from this website or from one of our books in a different format, ask and we will do our best to provide it.