MBA Hub | Heriot-Watt University

MBA Reception | Heriot-Watt University

Student events | Heriot-Watt University

Our publications | Heriot-Watt University

Maps and directions | Heriot-Watt University

Global College | Heriot-Watt University

Social media | Heriot-Watt University

Clubs and activities | Heriot-Watt University

Lists (e.g., `<ul>` or `<ol>`) should only contain list items (`<li>`) as a direct descendant 
to ensure that screen readers can accurately report the amount of items contained in the list. 

## Example

In the following example, some screen readers would say this list has two items, instead of 
four: 

```html
<ul>
    <div class="some_class">
        <li>Example 1</li>
    </div>
    <div class="some_other_class">
        <li>Example 2</li>
        <li>Example 3</li>
        <li>Example 4</li>
    </div>
</ul>
```

To fix this, you would need to remove the `<div class="some_class">` and 
`<div class="some_other_class>` elements and ensure only `<li>` list items remain.

## Further reading

The [formal specification for the list element](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/ul)
shows what is and is not permitted inside an `<ul>` and `<ol>`.

See [Technique H88](https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/H88.html) for more information.

list-not-following-semantics

August 2025

July 2025

Heriot-Watt University

Title / URL	Issues
MBA Hub \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/ebs/study/online/mba-hub	6
MBA Reception \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/news/events/2025/mba-reception	5
Student events \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/news/events/student-events	5
Our publications \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/about/profile/publications	5
Maps and directions \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/about/contact/maps-directions	5
Maps and directions \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/campuses/orkney/maps-directions	5
Global College \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/global-college	5
Maps and directions \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/campuses/scottish-borders/maps-and-directions	5
Social media \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/about/contact/social-media	5
Clubs and activities \| Heriot-Watt Universitywww.hw.ac.uk/campuses/orkney/clubs-activities	5

Ensure lists are marked up correctly

Heriot-Watt University

Where this issue has occurred