---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-repurpose-print-for-web.md
title: "Repurpose print documents for the web instead of pasting them"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "US government work, public domain; original synthesis in our own words"
license_family: usgov
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive, Repurpose print material, US government work, public domain; Digital.gov (GSA), Design for understanding, US government work, public domain; GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive, Avoid PDF overload, US government work, public domain."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-09
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-09
as_of: 2026-11-09
confidence: medium
untested: "Editorial checklist only; not tested with readers. Sources fetched and evidence checked."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "write-edit"
tags: [plain-language, web-writing, pdf, repurposing]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Repurpose print material"
    publisher: GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/web/repurpose-print-material.md
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S2
    title: "Design for understanding"
    publisher: Digital.gov (GSA)
    url: https://digital.gov/guides/plain-language/design
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S3
    title: "Avoid PDF overload"
    publisher: GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/web/avoid-pdf-overload.md
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
---
# Repurpose print documents for the web instead of pasting them

**Answer:** Don't cut and paste the text of print documents to create web content. Pick out the important information that will help your users and create a new web page.

## Why

- Print is very linear and narrative driven; web users are trying to accomplish a task, and narrative slows them down.
- Digital.gov: dense, cluttered writing deters people from taking the time to read.

## How to rebuild the page

- Keep the most important and clear message at the top.
- Chunk your content into logical sections, with headings to help users navigate.
- Highlight key facts in a bulleted list.
- Explain complex instructions in a visually appealing table.

## If you must post the PDF

PDF files are slow to open, are not mobile-friendly, and are difficult for some users to read. Include information about the file on a description page: what the PDF is about, how large the file is, and who might find it helpful.

## See also

- [plain-language-avoid-faq-dumps](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-language-avoid-faq-dumps/)
- [plain-one-main-message](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-one-main-message/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: Do not paste print text into web pages.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Don't cut and paste the text of print documents to create web content."

- id: C2
  claim: Print is linear and narrative driven.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Print is very linear and narrative driven."

- id: C3
  claim: Dense writing deters reading.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Dense, cluttered writing deters people from taking the time to read."

- id: C4
  claim: Describe a PDF before linking to it.
  source: S3
  evidence: "include information about the file on a description page"

## Sources

- [S1] Repurpose print material. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/web/repurpose-print-material.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S2] Design for understanding. Digital.gov (GSA). https://digital.gov/guides/plain-language/design . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S3] Avoid PDF overload. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/web/avoid-pdf-overload.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: US federal government works (GSA, GPO, SEC, CDC), public domain in the United States; third-party quotations inside those works were not used. Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

---

Agents: [/agents.md](/agents.md) | [/.well-known/agent-library.json](/.well-known/agent-library.json).