Title: Validation error:  heading ordering
Last modified: August 30, 2016

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# Validation error: heading ordering

 *  Resolved [new_B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/new_b/)
 * (@new_b)
 * [10 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/validation-error-heading-ordering/)
 * Hi,
 * Thanks again for all your work in making Genesis accessible.
 * As per [http://genesis-accessible.org/2015/07/genesis-2-2-accessibility-changes-and-features/](http://genesis-accessible.org/2015/07/genesis-2-2-accessibility-changes-and-features/)
 * H2 headings are given to: skip links, main navigation, sidebars (and in the content).
 * Question: not sure if I’m missing something but when I’m validating my webpage,
   it’s giving me an error about headings not being used in order.
 * E.g., on my homepage, I have <h1> as the site title. On other pages, I have <
   h1> as the relevant page’s title.
 * For skiplinks, it uses <h2> so <h2> comes before <h1> on my site.
 * Any suggestions?
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/genesis-accessible/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/genesis-accessible/)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Rian Rietveld](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rianrietveld/)
 * (@rianrietveld)
 * [10 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/validation-error-heading-ordering/#post-6581798)
 * For Genesis the WCAG 2.0 AA guidelines where followed.
    With in those guidelines
   it is ok to use an H2 before an H1. What validator did you use?
 * You can also ask these questions the Genesis Slack #accessibility channel.
    You
   can apply here: [http://genesis.community/slack](http://genesis.community/slack)
 *  Thread Starter [new_B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/new_b/)
 * (@new_b)
 * [10 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/validation-error-heading-ordering/#post-6581817)
 * Hi Rian,
 * Thanks. I tried several. The one that reported it was Total Validator (free version).
   This was the message I got:
 * `P883 [WCAG2 1.3.1 (A)] Nest headings properly (H1 > H2 > H3) Heading elements
   must be ordered properly. For example, H2 elements should follow H1 elements,
   H3 elements should follow H2 elements, etc. Developers should not skip levels
   or use headings for presentation effects. See http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/
   F43.html (displayed in new window)`
 *  Plugin Author [Rian Rietveld](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rianrietveld/)
 * (@rianrietveld)
 * [10 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/validation-error-heading-ordering/#post-6581925)
 * new_B:
    What you have to take into consideration is: against what guidelines 
   am I testing. If you use WAVE you can choose if you validate agains what level
   of accessibility you want to check. see: [http://wave.webaim.org/toolbar/](http://wave.webaim.org/toolbar/)
   WCAG 2 AA is worldwide regarded as the standard for web accessibility.
 *  Thread Starter [new_B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/new_b/)
 * (@new_b)
 * [10 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/validation-error-heading-ordering/#post-6581943)
 * Thanks, Rian.
 * With Total Validator, it also uses WCAG 2.0 AA–perhaps it’s a bug in the validation
   as all validators implement their checkers differently.
 * Just for my own knowledge, is there an exception in relation to WCAG 2.0AA for
   H2 before H1, etc. in certain circumstances? (e.g., skiplinks)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Validation error: heading ordering’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [new_B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/new_b/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/validation-error-heading-ordering/#post-6581943)
 * Status: resolved