Where should you give a tick? - briefly
«Place the tick in the box adjacent to the selected answer or option».
Where should you give a tick? - in detail
A tick, also known as a check mark, indicates selection, approval, or completion. Placement must correspond to the element that requires confirmation.
Typical environments for a tick include:
- Printed questionnaires: inside the square or circle that precedes each option.
- Digital forms: within the radio button or checkbox widget that appears beside the label.
- Examination papers: in the margin adjacent to the item number or within the provided box.
- Project management boards: on the card or task identifier that represents the completed status.
Guidelines for accurate positioning:
- Align the mark centrally within the bounded shape; uneven placement may be misread as a stray stroke.
- Ensure the mark does not intersect surrounding text; maintain a clear visual gap of at least one‑half character height.
- Use a consistent size relative to the container; oversized marks obscure the boundary, undersized marks become invisible.
- In electronic interfaces, apply the tick to the interactive control element rather than the label text; this preserves accessibility semantics.
Accessibility considerations:
- Provide a textual alternative, such as «selected», for screen‑reader users.
- Maintain sufficient contrast between the tick color and its background to meet WCAG AA standards.
- Preserve keyboard focus on the control when the tick appears, allowing navigation without mouse reliance.
Common errors to avoid:
- Placing the tick outside the designated area, leading to ambiguous responses.
- Using a different symbol (e.g., an X) in contexts where a tick conveys positive confirmation.
- Overlapping multiple ticks within a single option, which can confuse grading or data collection.
Correct placement of a tick enhances clarity, reduces processing errors, and supports consistent interpretation across paper and digital mediums.