Serif typefaces are most readable for extended printed text, while sans serif faces are more legible for short bursts of online text like headlines. To increase readability on screens, use shorter line lengths and ensure enough contrast between text and background. Legibility is improved by using sans serif fonts in a standard size without full capitalization or unusual styles like bold or italics.
2. Readability
Refers to how easy it is to read a lot of text,
extended text, pages and pages of text. In printed
pages that are text heavy, a clean serif face is most
readable
3. Increasing the Readability
Generally in print, we use a serif typeface for
extended text; on the screen
Never set large amounts of text in bold, italic, all
caps, small caps, script, etc. Small amounts of these
are okay when necessary
4. Continued
Avoid very long lines of text - text spread out
across the entire browser window is hard to
read. Long lines make it difficult for the
reader’s eye to find the beginning of the next
line, especially on a screen.
On the Screen, shorter lines are better than
longer lines, but avoid very short lines of body
copy
Make sure there’s enough contrast between
the type and the background
5. Legibility
Refers to how easy it is to recognize short bursts of
text, such as headlines, buttons, signs, etc. In print
and on the screen, sans serif faces are more legible.
6. Increasing Legibility
Generally, use a sans serif typeface
Don’t set type in all caps, unless you really need
the rectangular look of an all-caps word
8. Underline
On web pages underlines are important to identify
links
Don’t underline text that is not a link
If you take away an underline from a link make sure
that it is obviously a link
(Don’t make people think too much)
