The small element represents small print [...]
The b element represents a span of text to be stylistically offset from
the normal prose without conveying any extra importance [...]
Both definitions seems rather presentational (contrasting, for example,
the new semantic definition for the <i> element) and could also be
realized by use of <span> elements.
Why use <span class="smallprint">Copyright (c) 2008 ?</span> instead
of just <small>Copyright (c) 2008 ?</small>? The latter possibility
is way more semantic.
And why use <span class="brand">Siemens</span> instead of just
<b>Siemens</b>?
To me, the small and b elements ? especially the former ? make perfect
sense.
-david
I agree with the original poster on this.
1) Just because it makes sense to a human (it doesn't to me), does not mean
it makes sense to a machine.
2) When using <small> on different text-nodes throughout the document, one
would expect all these text-nodes to be semantically the same. But they are
not (unless all of them are copyright notices).
3) <small> is a styling element, it has zero semantic meaning, so it does
not belong inside HTML.
4) <b>Siemens</b> also does not tell me anything about the semantics. Is it
used as a name, a brand a foreign word ? etc. I cannot get that information
from looking at the <b> element.
Bert
