About this episode

The episode explores the proper use of testimonials and quote elements in web design, focusing on semantic HTML and accessibility.

This is the fourth episode in our ongoing series about the different components that make up a website, and today we’re diving deep into the world of testimonials, block quotes, pull quotes, and the cite element, and why so many of us are probably coding them all wrong. Nathan and David take a look at how these quote elements are handled from technical, design, accessibility, and SEO perspectives. Inspired by resources like Kevin Powell’s “Is HTML the Hardest Language?” and the work of Hayden Pickering, they set out to demystify the (often confusing) specifics of semantic HTML, particularly around quotes and citations. We start with the basics: where quotes show up, be it testimonials for credibility, comments for engagement, or pull quotes for stylistic flair, and debate what pull quotes really are. Then, they walk through the evolution of HTML specifications, the ongoing confusion around the best markup for quotations, and how expert voices like Hayden Pickering and Adrian Roselli suggest different, sometimes contradictory approaches to structuring quotes, citations, and testimonials. You’ll learn why using blockquote for pull quotes isn’t recommended, and why the cite element…

People in this episode

Hosts: Nathan Wrigley, David Waumsley

Topics covered

• testimonials
• block quotes
• semantic HTML
• accessibility
• SEO
• web design

Keywords

• testimonials
• block quotes
• semantic HTML
• accessibility
• SEO
• web design
• pull quotes

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