List item content needs an LBody

PDF/UA check LIST_BODY_ELEMENT · Lists · severity Low · PDF/UA 8.2.5.25 List

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Why it matters#

The LBody element separates the list marker (bullet/number) from the content. This structure lets screen readers properly announce 'bullet' followed by the item text.

What you will see#

Content inside a list item is not wrapped in LBody, so the bullet and the text are not separated.

How to fix#

Enclose the item's content in an LBody element inside the LI, keeping the bullet or number in a separate Lbl element. Any real content in an LI that is not the label belongs inside LBody.

Step-by-step guide#

1. Open the Accessibility tags panel (View > Show/Hide > Side panels > Accessibility tags) and expand each flagged LI element.
2. Identify the two roles inside the item: the marker (bullet, number, or letter) and the item content. The marker, when it is real content, belongs in a Lbl element; everything else belongs in an LBody element (PDF/UA-2 8.2.5.25).
3. Right-click the LI and choose New Tag > List Item Body (LBody), then drag the item's content elements (P tags, text containers, nested lists) into the LBody, preserving order.
4. If the marker text is real content and not yet tagged, right-click the LI, choose New Tag > List Item Label (Lbl), and drag the marker's content into it, placing the Lbl before the LBody within the LI.
5. If any Lbl elements are present, set the ListNumbering attribute on the L element to the closest matching scheme (e.g. Decimal, UpperAlpha, Disc); the value None shall not be used in that case. In Acrobat: right-click the L tag > Properties > Tag tab > Edit Attribute Objects, add the ListNumbering key with owner /List.
6. Repeat for every LI in the list so all items share the same Lbl/LBody shape.

Verify: Re-run the EQChecker scan and confirm LIST_BODY_ELEMENT passes. Expanding the list in the Accessibility tags panel should show each LI containing Lbl and/or LBody with no stray content directly under LI, and a screen reader should read the marker followed by the item text.

Note: If the bullet or number is painted as an artifact rather than real content, no Lbl is needed (8.2.5.16 NOTE 1: artifact content can label real content, in which case Lbl is not appropriate) and the ListNumbering requirement is not triggered; the item's real content still requires an LBody. Word/InDesign exports that put item text directly in the LI are the most common source of this error.

WCAG success criteria#

1.3.1 Info and Relationships — Level A#

Structure and relationships conveyed visually (headings, lists, tables, labels, groups) must also be available programmatically.

Understanding 1.3.1

Standards#

This check contributes to the following standards:

PDF/UA WCAG A EN 301 549