subheadings

Subheadings are secondary headings used to divide a document into sections beneath a main heading. They guide readership, improve scan-ability, and reveal the document’s structure.

Subheadings form a hierarchical order that shows how ideas relate. Common levels include main sections and subsections; in HTML they map to H2–H6, in word processors to Heading 2 and beyond. Use a consistent sequence without skipping levels.

Formatting typically contrasts with body text, often employing larger size, bold weight, or distinctive capitalization. Apply the same style to every heading at the same level, and keep labels precise and informative rather than generic.

Accessibility considerations emphasize meaningful headings. Screen readers rely on correct heading order to navigate documents; avoid decorative headings and ensure that each subheading describes the following content.

Best practices include keeping subheadings concise, informative, and evenly distributed across the document. Limit depth to three or four levels, and align topics with reader goals. Subheadings can aid searchability when they include relevant terms, but the content remains primary.

Example structure: an article might use Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion, with subsections such as Participants and Procedures under Methods.