Why the book is helpful
- Comprehensive review of the literature on document design
- Strong chapter on typography
This entry is a compilation of guidelines on typography culled from Karen Schriver’s book on document design
Additional details
Typeface
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When type resolution is good, as is the case with most computer displays, sans-serif and serif fonts are equally legible. However, most readers, including those of different ages and with low vision and “normal” vision, prefer sans-serif type when reading online.
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Low vision readers often prefer non-italic type.
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Readers are often sensitive to the weight of a type (e.g. light vs. bold), making it an effective visual cue.
Type Size
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Smaller type (e.g. 10-point) often takes longer to read but tends to improve reading accuracy, possibly because of the concentration needed to read it.
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Readers often prefer 12-point type over 10-point type.
- Children and elderly readers prefer slightly larger type (14-point sans-serif), while visually impaired readers prefer 14-point to 16-point sans-serif type.
Case
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Readers are slower when reading all uppercase letters, with optimal reading speed occurring with mixed-case text.
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When all uppercase words are used in small amounts (for headings, etc.) they can work as an effective visual cue, though bold type is shown to be a stronger visual cue.
Leading
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Longer line length and larger type size often requires greater vertical space between the lines of text (called “leading”) for better readability and scanning.
Justification
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Readers prefer left aligned/ragged right margins
- Fully justified text causes large, uneven spaces between words that can make text more difficult to read.