Alt Text Examples

📝 ALT TEXT WORKSHOP

These examples show real alt text from workplace documents, expert feedback on common problems, and improved versions.

Alt Text Review Expert

This workshop includes expert review and feedback by Lisa Kovac.

For further questions or alt text consultations, contact her at: lkovac@uwo.ca

Original Alt Text: "A supervisor with a hazard document in his hand, planning safe work. Two construction members are in the back picking up lumber building a house"

🔍 Expert Feedback

Please cut "planning safe work". What is the visual clue that helps the learner draw that conclusion in their mind: does the document have plans on it? In the same way, "building a house" should either be cut or rephrased. Is there a half-built house in the background that the learner should know about?

Improved Alt Text: "A supervisor holds a blue folder with a hazard symbol on it. In the background, two workers carry lumber from the frame of a house."

Improved Alt Text: "A man is sitting down, facing the left. He has a thought bubble above him, on the right with a question mark in it."

Improved Alt Text: "Four people stand in a circle facing each other, appearing to have a conversation. Starting on the left and moving clockwise, there is a person with long dark hair holding a blue folder, a person with short dark hair whose arms are folded with one hand on their chin, a person with short red hair and an artificial leg holding a folder with one arm outstretched towards the centre of the circle, and a person with short dark hair with both arms outstretched."

Key Takeaways for Alt Text

Be specific about visual details rather than making interpretations
Avoid assumptions about what people are thinking or feeling
Include relevant context that sighted users would notice immediately
Keep it concise while including essential information
Test with real users when possible to validate your descriptions

🎯 Your Turn: Write the Alt Text

To wrap up, here's one last image for you to describe. Use everything you've learned:

Stick to what you can observe visually
Don’t assume mood or intent
Include meaningful visual details (but keep it concise)

Challenge image: describe this rural landscape based on visual details. Your response will not be judged.