Top 10 rules of thumb for readable text
By Judy Litt
I've written this over and over again: it's not how "pretty" your designs look, it's whether they get the job done - and that means whether or not the materials you design get read. How do you ensure that? It helps to begin with working hard to make your text readable, and here are ten tips that do just that. 1) Avoid using italics or script type
Italics were created to show emphasis, much like bold type. But large amounts of italics just slow reading.2) Avoid using bold type
Bold type tends to have smaller counters (a counter is the "hole" in the letters b or o), which makes it harder to read. Bold type is fine for a few key words or a subhead, but it shouldn't be used in large amounts of copy. 3) Avoid using all caps
All caps are difficult to read because all the letters are the same height, and people read by the shapes of words, not by individual letters. All caps are fine for short headlines or subheads, but they should never be used for more than a few words of text. 4) Avoid reversing type
You might think that reversed type would be easier to read because there's good contrast, but the truth is it's difficult to read. Counters tend to be larger, and the text almost looks as though it's breaking up. If you really want to use reverse type, save it for small amounts of text and bold it. 5) Avoid running type over a screened background
Screened backgrounds are a great device to call attention to small amounts of text, but when used for all the text, it's difficult to read. There is less contrast between the screened background and the text than there is between the uncolored paper and the text. Save screened backgrounds for sidebars and pull quotes. 6) Avoid too little or too much space between lines
Proper spacing between lines is crucial for good readability. Too little space between lines of text will make it difficult to distinguish one line from another, and the reader is more likely to reread the same line or lose his place in the text. Too much space causes the reader to pause too long between lines, once again making him more likely to lose his place. 7) Avoid using lines that are too short or too long
If your linelength is too short, words that would normally be read together might be broken apart; the copy will take longer to read and comprehend. Surprisingly, lines that are too long also take too long to read: the reader has trouble going from the end of one line to the beginning of the next. 8) Use lists where appropriate
Lists are quick to read and easy to comprehend. They make the information you're trying to get across seem very organized. Make sure you use the same structure for each list item: either use a period with all list items or no periods at all. 9) Use flush left or justified text
For those who read from left to right, it's easiest to read if the left edge is even. Save centered, flush right, or text in shapes for small amounts of text. 10) Use serif type
It's a generally accepted rule of thumb that the serifs on type help lead the eye along lines of text. Europeans, on the other hand, are more used to sans serif type. If you do choose to use sans serif type, you'll almost certainly need to add more leading than usual to make the text more readable. |
