Legibility Vs Readability

Legibility and readability are two diverse tasks necessary of very good typography. So what is the distinction?
Legibility refers to how simply a single letter can be distinguished from one more, or a typestyle's 'clarity.' Legibility is constructed into the font (or not) by its designer and is largely beyond the typesetter's handle. Sans serif fonts (these with no serifs, the horizontal embellishments at the tops and bottoms of the letters) are viewed as additional legible and are normally applied for headlines, signage and computer system screen text.

Readability is the relative ease with which a typeface can be read when characters are laid out in words, sentences, and paragraphs. Longer blocks of text will need to be readable to hold the reader and enhance comprehension. Setting text in columns tends to make for shorter line length, which improves readability. Text set with 'ragged suitable' alignment is extra readable than text that is 'force justified' or manipulated to line up on the left and correct margins. White space, subheads and other components that break up the text give the reader's eye resting areas and enable avert fatigue.

Colin Wheildon, author of Type & Layout located in his investigation on typography for print media, "Physique copy will have to be set in serif type if the designer intends it to be read and understood. Additional than 5 instances as lots of readers are probably to show excellent comprehension when a serif Physique type is utilised alternatively than a sans serif Physique type."

The serifs themselves Variety a visual "skyline," assisting the reader with character recognition and the ability to read groups of words alternatively of 1 word at a time. The thick and thin components of most serif faces too assist the eye distinguish involving characters; generating letters additional recognizable, and words far more readable.

To maximize readability, it is normally very best to avert extremes. Select typefaces that have:

- Letters with comparable character widths instead than large variations in width
- Medium height to width ratios (letters not excessively thin or fat)
- Lowercase letters of medium height (not too short or tall in relation to its caps)
- Little variations in stroke weights (equivalent thicknesses involving the components of the letters)
- Medium-sized "counters" (the enclosed spaces inside letters such as e, a, b, d, g, o, p & q) instead than oversized or undersized
- Easy shapes without the need of swashes or embellishments that can interfere with flow and tire the reader

We will need our stuff read. Let's make it reader-friendly.

Linda Pizzitola is principal of Kauai Design Graphics, Inc., a graphic design, copywriting and advertising firm on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Subscribers to her quarterly e-zine, The Graphics Grapevine, obtain short articles and suggestions on design, persuasive writing and Tiny company promoting. To see samples of her design function and client list, to subscribe to The Graphics Grapevine or access back problems, pay a visit to http://www.kauaidesign.com.