Inline text must support user spacing overrides
Accessibility isn’t only about avoiding violations — it’s about ensuring your product can be used confidently by everyone. This guide explains the principle of this rule, shows what goes wrong in real-world code, and provides a verified fix that meets WCAG and the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Why this matters and how to fix it
Why this matters
Users may increase line and letter spacing for readability. Content must remain usable when spacing is adjusted.
How to fix this issue
Ensure content remains readable with at least: line-height 1.5, letter-spacing 0.12em, word-spacing 0.16em, and no text clipping at 200% zoom.
Developer guidance
Include text spacing overrides in visual regression tests. Avoid fixed heights/line clamps that clip text.
Code examples
Incorrect Implementation
<p style="line-height:1; letter-spacing:0; word-spacing:0;">Text content</p>Correct Implementation
<p style="line-height:1.5; letter-spacing:0.12em; word-spacing:0.16em;">Text content</p>
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