We talked a lot about the words used, sentence structure and being conscious of readers in other blog posts recently.
The next level is using fonts, size and color schemes that are user friendly.
The information below comes from a British disability charity called Scope. I attach a link to it here. Font accessibility and readability – the basics (Scope)
The more readable your font is, the more likely it is that people reading your content can:
- understand your message
- get the information they need quickly
The accessibility of a font can vary with different needs. This can make it difficult to choose one single, ‘accessible’ font. Font choice can particularly affect people who have:
- a visual impairment
- dyslexia
- low literacy
- learning difficulties
- conditions like Irlen syndrome that affect the way the brain processes visual information
- migraines
So, which fonts do we use? Actually there are many accessible fonts we see every day. These include
- Ariel
- Helvetica
- Times New Roman
- Century Gothic
The bottom line here is fonts with simple, and familiar shapes are easier to read.
The most readable size on a website is between 12 and 14 points. If your writing is that size most people won’t be straining their eyes to see it.
Now, with regards to color. While black text on white background is mostly accessible, it doesn’t help all. Using a darker shade of gray is also effective.
You can act on this by looking at the fonts, sizes and colors you use.
Beth writes 