The title attribute can be used with all elements except for base, basefont, head, html, meta, param, script, and title, but it isn’t required for any. Maybe that’s why it’s less clear when to use it.
Use this to provide additional information that is not essential. Most visual browsers display title text as a tool tip when the element is hovered over, however it is up to the browser manufacturer to decide how the title text is rendered. Some will display the text in the status bar instead. Early versions of Safari did this, for instance.
Claude Almansi on 06 Jan 10"Overview This Flash-based tool was created by Michael Brewer and the Office for Information Technology Policy. It provides information on determining whether or not a particular reproduction or other use of a copyrighted work is covered by Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Code, the Library & Archives exemption. While the interactivity of this tool is not available to those using screen readers, such as JAWS, the following text provides all the information provided by this tool. For the fulltext of Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Code, go to: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#108. Please provide any feedback or address any questions on this tool to Michael Brewer, or to Carrie Russell at the Office for Information Technology Policy."