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Subject:Re: Font readability? From:Bev Parks <bparks -at- HUACHUCA-EMH1 -dot- ARMY -dot- MIL> Date:Fri, 7 Apr 1995 22:05:21 MST
Arlen wrote, in response to the indented question:
Okay, here's a question for you usability types. An engineer
in our company is trying to make us change the font we use
from a sans serif to a serif type. He claims that serif is
more readable. Does anyone have some data (studies, hard
evidence) to back one style or the other?
I can't quote the source, but I remember reading that san
serif makes for good display type, but serif fonts are more
readable in smaller, book-style printing. There's something
about the serifs which leads your eye to the next character,
making words more clearly seen.
Anybody else, or am I halucinating again?
> ----------------------------------------------
Arlen is absolutely correct. The readability of serif typefaces
over sans serif typefaces is well established. Pick up any
typography or desktop publishing book to see it spelled out in
black and white. References abound.
The serifs provide a trail for your eyes to follow. As Arlen said,
they lead your eye.
=*= Beverly Parks =*= bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil =*=
=*= "These opinions are mine, not my employer's." =*=
=*= =*= =*=