# Fine print

> A short 14px muted note under content: conditions, sources and “as of” lines.

- Block class: `.hs-fine-print`
- CSS: `components/base.css` (also inside https://brand.honorsociety.org/brand.css)
- JS: none
- Status: built, open to change
- Decision record: https://brand.honorsociety.org/decisions/components-round-3.html
- Variants: Fine print
- HTML page: https://brand.honorsociety.org/components/fine-print/

## What it is

A short note under content: conditions, sources, "as of" lines. It is 14px and muted on every ground, and fills the container.

## When to use

- A condition or caveat under a proof band ("Ratings and review counts can change").
- An "as of" line for a figure that can change.
- The optional note under the button in a [CTA band](/components/cta-band/).
- A source line that links to the Transparency Statement or the page a claim came from.
- The editorial or source note at the end of an article: the last child of `.hs-prose`. There it takes 32px of space and a hairline above it.

## When not to use

- Legal or participation terms: use [Disclosure](/components/disclosure/).
- A status or a risk the reader must act on: use [Callout](/components/callout/).
- Long body copy: use [Prose](/components/prose/).
- A meta line inside a card: use `.hs-card__meta` in [Card](/components/card/). Outside a card, use fine print, not a borrowed `.hs-card__meta`.

## Rules

- Markup: one `<p class="hs-fine-print">`. Keep it to one short note.
- Place it under the content it qualifies. After a sibling it takes a 12px top margin; as a direct child of `.hs-prose`, 32px and a hairline.
- Write links as plain `<a>`. They take a 1px underline in the text colour and turn navy (white on navy) on hover. No gold: gold is for the action.
- Use it on any ground with no modifier. It reads the ground's muted colour.
- Every claim in it is checkable. Link the source where it helps.

## Accessibility

- Text is slate 6.2:1 on white, and white 86% on navy.
- A link keeps an underline, so it does not depend on colour.
- The note needs no JavaScript and has no motion.

## Variants

### Fine print

A short note under content: conditions, sources, “as of” lines. 14px muted on every ground. Legal terms use the disclosure.

```html
<p class="hs-fine-print">Ratings and review counts can change. BBB accreditation concerns business standards, not academic accreditation. See the <a href="/transparency">Transparency Statement</a>.</p>
```