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.
Subject:RE: Reasons not to use the Courier font From:"Dr Heart" <Lonestar -at- nesma -dot- net -dot- sa> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 5 Oct 1999 00:46:37 -0000
Bear wrote:
"Unless your clients have taken the trouble to learn a little about
publishing, they will know nothing (and believe nothing) about the
readability issues involved in typeface selection."
When I read this, that ol' time typeface cathecism came to mind: serifs help
the reader's eyes from straying [as if they were cattle]. :) Now the client
may not know what to call those typeface potato sprouts, but sure "knows"
that they're required to herd those eye balls.
Well, there are several ways in which to "educate" the client, Bear. One is
to remind them that these types of fonts were also to be used in conjunction
with columnar text, like a cattle pen, because not only are eye balls likely
to stray, but even when herded, they need to be constricted to very short
distances.
A "down home" sense of humor with a strong underpinning of knowledge usually
gets the client to relax the project death grip, and to trust the
consultative expertise being bought.
