Content structure · hard · v4.6.1

STR-06

Nest headings hierarchically. Never skip heading levels for visual styling. H1 for page title, H2 for sections, H3 for subsections.

Pass example

H1: Account settings. H2: Notifications. H3: Email alerts.

Fail example

H1: Account settings. H3: Email alerts. H4: Frequency.

Sources

Style guides that shaped this standard. Each is listed on /sources with its license and opt-out path.

  • Mailchimp

Version history

  1. v4.6.1 · 2026-04-23

    Per-standard version tracking introduced. Every standard starts at the library version current at introduction; bump per-standard when the rule text, examples, or content_type_notes change.

Related standards

Other standards in the Content structure category.

  • STR-01 — Use headings to create scannable structure in help content, onboarding flows, and long-form UI copy. Short UI copy like error messages, tooltips, and confirmations don't need headings.
  • STR-02 — Keep paragraphs short. 2-3 sentences max for UI copy and help content.
  • STR-03 — Use parallel structure in lists and sequential steps. Each item should follow the same grammatical pattern. In multi-step flows, a final result-state item ('You're ready to go', 'Your account is set up') may shift to declarative when it describes an outcome rather than an action.
  • STR-04 — Front-load key information in tooltips and microcopy. Users may not read to the end.
  • STR-05 — Group related information together. Don't scatter details across disconnected sections.

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