What this criterion requires
No content or functionality may be lost when users override typography to: line height 1.5x, paragraph spacing 2x, letter spacing 0.12x and word spacing 0.16x of the font size.
Who it helps
People with dyslexia and low vision who apply custom spacing stylesheets.
Example: fails vs passes
.teaser { height: 72px; overflow: hidden; }.teaser { min-height: 72px; }Users override line height to 1.5x, paragraph to 2x, letter to 0.12em, word to 0.16em - nothing may clip or vanish.
How to meet and fix it
- Avoid fixed-height text containers; let boxes grow
- Test with a text-spacing bookmarklet across templates
Common failures auditors find
- Clipped or overlapping text under the override values
- Buttons whose labels vanish when letter spacing grows
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 1.4.12: Text Spacing - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 1.4.12 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
Does your site pass 1.4.12?
Run a free automated check now, or have certified IAAP/CPWA auditors test every criterion and document the result.