Learning
typographic usage may seem like the simple application of common sense and
visual sensibility, especially when it comes to rudimentary typographical
practice, however it’s not so straightforward. There are volumes of research
that have been generated about the readability, legibility, and visibility of
typography as it applies to paragraph bodies of text in theory as well as in
practice.
The
following text "don't and do" samples demonstrate a number of basic principles that are
essential for setting text that performs suitably in paragraphs with the potential
to be as aesthetically pleasing as conditions will allow. The statement used
in the examples below is an excerpt from a treatise on typography written in
1818 titled Annals of Parisian Typography,
by William Parr Greswell.
Widows
Don’t allow a
single word line or “widow” to occur at the end of a paragraph.
Do alter paragraph line endings to change the “rag” and eliminate a widow.
Indention
Don’t indent
the first line of an article or chapter.
Do remove
the indentation. A first paragraph should not be indented. Paragraphs following the first should be indented.
Coloration
Don’t use a
color for text that is difficult to read.
Do choose a
text color with adequate contrast to the background.
Typestyles
Don’t choose
a display font style that is difficult to read.
Do use display
fonts sparingly for short statements or portions of a statement.
Capitals
Don’t set paragraph text in all capital letters.
Do use all
capital letters for single words, single sentences, or short statements.
Ornamentals
Don’t use fonts
with ornate capital letters for all cap statements.
Do use ornate
capital letters only at the beginning of sentences.
Weight
Don’t choose
excessively bold fonts for long bodies of text.
Do choose reduced
weight fonts for paragraph use.
Linespacing
Don’t set
text solid or use negative line spacing.
Do add space
between lines or use default spacing for the point size in use.
Wordspacing
Don’t use an
excessive amount of word space for paragraph text.
Do use
default or slightly reduced spacing.
Letterspacing
Don’t use an
excessive amount of letter space for paragraph text.
Do use
letter spacing in a moderate amount.
Measures
Don’t set
text in long lines or “measures”.
Do limit the
average length of lines in a paragraph to no more than 12 words.
Justification
Don’t set
type flush on both sides or “justified” in short measures.
Do set type
as justified in wider measures.
Rivers
Don’t allow auto justification to create "rivers and lakes".
Do manually adjust justified text to improve rivers.
Flush Right
Don’t set a
chapter or story flush right, ragged left.
Do use flush
right, ragged left for shorter statements or call outs.
Centering
Don’t set a
chapter or story as centered text.
Do use
centered text for shorter statements or call outs.
Hyphenation
Don’t allow
excessive hyphenation to occur in a paragraph.
Do change
the rag so that no more than two adjacent lines are hyphenated.
Condensing
Don’t
excessively compress a font horizontally.
Do use original letter proportioning or find a
font designed to be condensed.
Extending
Don’t
excessively vertically compress a font.
Do use original letter proportioning or find a font designed to be extended.
Verticals
Don’t
letterset type vertically.
Do set words
in vertical columns, but only sparingly if necessary.
Outline
Don’t use
outline type for large bodies of text.
Do use
outline type for short statements or contrast, but only sparingly.
Modification
Don’t apply
excessive visual effects to paragraph text.
Do use
visual effects subtly and with restraint.
Overprinting
Don’t set
dark type over images with detailed or contrasting elements.
Do
lighten or “dodge” the image to improve
the readability of the text.
Don’t set
white type over images with detailed or contrasting elements.
Do
darken or “burn” the image to improve
the readability of the text.
