TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Thanks to everyone for your help. This has really helped me see that font
size is ONLY the beginning, when considering readability and page design. I
have a much better idea of how to proceed now. I appreciate everyone's
input.
Have a great weekend.
Anna Langley, Education Services
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
alangley -at- ts -dot- checkpoint -dot- com
"Get Check Point Certified"
Computer Reseller News Reports that Check Point certifications have
tremendous
ROI and are continuously being recognized in the industry as certifications
with
increased value. Visit 2003 Special Report: Certification to view the full
article:
-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Hart [mailto:ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca]
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 9:26 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com; Anna Langley
Subject: MINIMUM FONT SIZE FOR READABILITY?
Anna Langley wondered: <<Can you point me to any research proving that
printed text should not fall below a minimum font size? I've read some
articles stating font size shouldn't go below 9 point for printed text.
Other articles state it's a matter of page size.>>
Readability involves a combination of much more than type and page
size: it depends strongly on the typeface, leading, character and word
spacing, and a batch of other variables, all of which interact
promiscuously. So don't look for a single answer; it'll almost
certainly be wrong for your specific situation. One thing I have seen
repeatedly in the research is that your minimum font size should
increase if you have a significant portion of older folks in your
audience. I'm not yet "elderly", but I generally find 9 point Times on
the small side of readable, but that's just one data point.
<<I'd like to make a case for increasing the minimum font size to
improve readability, but I need research to back up my case.>>
Why not do your own research? In a similar situation, I produced three
versions of the same page using 9-, 10-, and 11-point type that were
otherwise identical apart from increasing the leading proportionally.
(PageMaker, autoleading.) I then took these pages around to a bunch of
"typical readers" in my audience (in this case, forestry researchers
who were reading a technical report destined for other forestry
researchers) and polled them: Which page design do you find easiest to
read?
As noted above, the older folks preferred larger type, but overall, the
11-point text won handily. Your mileage may vary, of course (depending
on whether you use leaded or unleaded type? <gdrlh>), but the test
provides far more convincing data than any journal article because (a)
it uses your own design, not some wholly unrelated design, and (b) the
experiences of people you know always seem more "real" than those of an
anonymous group of test subjects.
--Geoff Hart ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca
(try geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com if you don't get a reply)
