WordPress: Headings

Headings are the main organizational tool of a web page and allow you to organize a page’s content into sections and sub-sections.

Adding a Heading Block

In the content area either:

  1. with the cursor in the editor, type forward slash /; or
  2. select the plus button

3. Start typing “heading” and select the heading block from the list

Now that you have inserted the heading block, you may add your text and set the heading level.

The heading block is now in place for your heading’s text.

Choosing a Heading Level

Headings are hierarchical and have different “levels” that can be set when they are inserted into pages. The HTML heading levels are known as H1, H2, H3, H4, H5 and H6. Note that H5 and H6 are not routinely used on the College website and are not available to you as an editor.

The page title is H1. There is only one H1 on a page, therefore editors cannot insert additional H1s.

The level of heading that you should use is determined by the content, not personal preference.

Setting the Heading Level

When your cursor is in the heading block, the heading level can be changed by selecting the H2 icon in the toolbar (note it will be H3 or H4 if that level has previously been chosen).

  • The first level of heading within the content area must be H2. Break content into logical sections, each with an appropriate H2.
  • H3 is used to subdivide content that is related to the H2 above it.
  • H4 can be used to subdivide content that is related to the H3 above it.

Why is the first level H2? Because the page title is H1. As headings must be used hierarchically, the first heading level used anywhere within a page is always H2.

Heading Levels That May Follow Other Heading Levels

You make your own determination of the level of subsequent headings based on the content itself and how it relates to surrounding content, adhering to these rules:

  • H2 may be followed only by H2 or H3.
  • H3 may be followed by H2 or H3 or H4.
  • H4 may be followed by H2, H3 or H4.

Content After Headings

There must be content after a heading (e.g. text, image, list, other content block).

Headings may also be followed immediately by another heading (without intervening content) that is the next level down in the hierarchy. e.g.:

  • H2 may be immediately followed by H3
  • H3 may be immediately followed by H4

However:

  • H4 must not immediately be followed by another H4 (without intervening content)
  • H2 must not immediately be followed by another H2 (without intervening content)
  • H3 must not immediately be followed by another H3 (without intervening content)