-Ensure that tables have necessary markup to be transformed by accessible browsers and other user agents.
Tables should be used to mark up tabular information. But they should be avoided in using them to lay out an entire website. It also referred to special problems presented by using tables to users of screen readers. I think it would mess up the screen reading software. Besides no matter how you think of it, it just seems more logical and user friendly to use CSS to lay out your pages.
The guideline explains that some user agents will allow users to navigate through table cells and access header and other table cell information. Unless the tables are marked-up the right way, these tables will not provide user agents with the needed information.
The next several checkpoints will greatly benefit any user using tables through auditory means.
Checkpoints
5.1 - For data tables, identify row and column headers -In HTML use TD to mark data cells and TH to identify headers
5.2 - For data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers, use markup to associate data cells and header cells. -In HTML use THEAD, TFOOT, and TBODY to group rows, COL and COLGROUP to group columns, and the "axis", "scope", and "headers" attributes, to describe more complex relationships among data.
5.3 - Do not use tables for layout unless the table makes sense when lined up. Otherwise, if the table does not make sense, provide an alternative equivalent.
5.4 - If a table is used for layout, do not use any structural markup for the purpose of visual formatting -For example, in HTML do not use the TH element to cause the content of a (non-table header) cell to be displayed centered and in bold.
5.5 - Provide summaries for tables -In HTML, use the "summary" attribute of the TABLE element.
5.6 - Provide abbreviations for header labels. -In HTML, use the "abbr" attribute on the TH element
I believe that these are very guidelines to use when a table is needed in a website or you can use these guidelines to decided if you need a table. I think there needs to be a little small print that says “Do what you can to use CSS instead of a table”. To mean it all just seems to flow better and be easier to use. For more information on this Guideline click here.