Platinum Edition Using HTML 4, XML, and Java 1.2
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): Eric Ladd
ISBN: 078971759x
Publication Date: 11/01/98

<DEL>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains text that has been deleted from the document. The tag is intended mainly for documents with multiple authors and/or editors who would want to see all the content in an original draft, even though it may have been deleted by a reviewer.

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NOTE:  The idea of logically marking up deleted text is similar to the idea of using revision marks in Microsoft Word. When revision marks are turned on, you can see the deleted text even though it is technically no longer part of the document.

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Syntax:

<DEL CITE=”url” DATETIME=”YYYYMMDDThh:mm:ss”> ... deleted text goes here
... </DEL>

Attributes:

<DEL> can take two attributes:

•  CITE—Provides the URL of a document that explains why the deletion was necessary.

•  DATETIME—Puts a “timestamp” on the deletion.

Example:

She just got a big<DEL>, huge</DEL> raise.

In this example, the use of the word “huge” is redundant, so an astute copy editor would delete it.

Related Tags:

The <INS> tag has a similar function for inserted text.

<DFN>

Type:

Container

Function:

Denotes the defining instance of a term. Internet Explorer will display text tagged with <DFN> in italic, whereas Netscape Navigator will not use any special formatting.

Syntax:

<DFN> ... term being introduced goes here ... </DFN>

Attributes:

None.

Example:

Freud proposed the idea of a <DFN>catharsis</DFN> - a release
of psychic tension.

<EM>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains text to be emphasized. Most browsers render emphasized text in italic.

Syntax:

<EM> ... emphasized text goes here ... </EM>

Attributes:

None.

Example:

Please do <EM>not</EM> disturb the dog.

<INS>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains text that has been inserted into the document after its original draft.

Syntax:

<INS> ... inserted text goes here ... </INS>

Attributes:

Like <DEL>, <INS> can take two attributes:

•  CITE—Provides the URL of a document that explains why the insertion was necessary.

•  DATETIME—Puts a “timestamp” on the insertion.

Example:

The New World was discovered by <DEL>Magellan</DEL>
<INS>Columbus</INS> in 1492.

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NOTE:  Note how <DEL> and <INS> are used together to strike some text and then to insert a correction in its place.

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Related Tags:

The <DEL> tag logically represents deleted text.

<KBD>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains text that represents keyboard input. Browsers typically render such text in a fixed-width font.

Syntax:

<KBD> ... keyboard input goes here ... </KBD>

Attributes:

None.

Example:

To begin, type <KBD>go</KBD> and press Enter.

<Q>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains a direct quotation to be displayed inline.

Syntax:

<Q CITE=”URL_of_cited_document”> ... quotation goes here ... </Q>

Attributes:

If you’re quoting from an online source, you can set the CITE attribute equal to the source’s URL. Also, you may wish to consider using the LANG attribute because quotes are denoted with different characters in many languages.

Related Tags:

The <BLOCKQUOTE> tag can also be used to denote quoted text, but block quotes are displayed with increased right and left indents and are not in line with the rest of the body text.

<SAMP>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains text that represents the literal output from a program. Such output is sometimes referred to as sample text. Most browsers will render sample text in a fixed-width font.

Syntax:

<SAMP> ... program output goes here ... </SAMP>

Attributes:

None.

Example:

A common first exercise in a programming course is to write a program
to produce the message <SAMP>Hello World</SAMP>.

<STRONG>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains text to be strongly emphasized. Browsers typically render strongly emphasized text in boldface (see Figure 3.7).

Syntax:

<STRONG> ... strongly emphasized text goes here ... </STRONG>

Attributes:

None.

Example:

<STRONG>STOP!</STRONG> Do not proceed any further.  Contact your system
administrator.

FIGURE 3.7  The <STRONG> tag is useful for marking up recommendations with extra emphasis.

<VAR>

Type:

Container

Function:

Denotes a variable from a computer program. Variables are typically rendered in a fixed-width font.

Syntax:

<VAR> ... program variable goes here ... </VAR>

Attributes:

None.

Example:

The <VAR>RecordCount</VAR> variable is set to the number of records
that the query retrieved.

Block-Level Formatting Tags

Block-level formatting tags are usually applied to larger content than the text-level formatting tags. As such, the block-level tags define major sections of a document, such as paragraphs, headings, abstracts, chapters, and so on. The tags profiled in this section are the ones to turn to when you want to define the block-level elements in a document you’re authoring.

<BLOCKQUOTE>

Type:

Container

Function:

Contains quoted text that is to be displayed indented from regular body text (see Figure 3.8).

FIGURE 3.8  Blockquotes are used to offset longer quoted passages.

Syntax:

<BLOCKQUOTE CITE=”URL_of_cited_document”> ... quoted text goes here ... </BLOCKQUOTE>

Attributes:

If you’re quoting from an online source, you can set the CITE attribute equal to the source’s URL.

Example:

Fans of Schoolhouse Rock will always be able to recite the preamble
of the United States Constitution:
<BLOCKQUOTE>
We, the people, in order to form a more perfect Union ...
</BLOCKQUOTE>

Related Tags:

The <Q> tag is used to denote quoted text that is to be displayed in line with the body text.