[Bug 10929] would the <small> element be better handled in CSS?

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=10929

--- Comment #2 from Shelley Powers <shelleyp@burningbird.net> 2010-10-01 13:30:57 UTC ---
I think it's a bad idea to re-use elements that were primarily seen as
presentational, and then re-define them for new semantic purposes. The web will
then consist of uses of the same element for presentation, and for some form of
semantics. 

The small element has traditionally been used to create smaller text, not to
highlight specific fine print in a document. In HTML4, which probably accounts
for a significant number of web pages today (and long into the future), it
means nothing more than small text. It's use was discouraged in XHTML, because
it was presentational. 

And now, small somehow has "meaning". Where before we discouraged its use,
suddenly we're now telling web authors, designers, and developers that it's
OK--but it's not the same thing. 

People have used the element, even correctly in HTML4. When people go to port
their web pages over to HTML5, they'll ignore the small element use sprinkled
liberally throughout their documents. And since it is a valid element, they
won't get warnings, but their use will not reflect the new meaning within
HTML5.

If we really feel the need for something like a fine print element (though why
we would is extremely debatable), then it would have been better not to attempt
to re-use existing elements, just because the previous element matches the
expectations about presentation.

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Received on Friday, 1 October 2010 13:31:02 UTC