How To Use Fonts (And Why You Should Care)
Communication, both face-to-face and in writing, occurs on two levels: verbal and non-verbal. To achieve maximum impact, it is essential that this dual communication consistently corresponds. Think about it. Would you find a snickering salesperson persuasive? Would you find a monotone motivational speaker inspiring? No. Not any more than you find your state Congressperson sincere. Why? Because communication is more than just words. Because, quite simply, presentation matters. In writing, size does matter. And spacing. And color. And everything else.
Presentation is crucial to all forms of communication—most of all when dealing with written communication. Unlike information conveyed personally, a written message is static. It must speak for itself. Expert communicators know that superb content is not enough. They know that to achieve truly effective communication one must pay equal attention to how the content is presented. Contrarily, untrained communicators don’t realize that style can, and often does, override substance—and corporate trash-cans nationwide brim with the ridiculed remains of their ransom-note-like resumes. So how can you enhance the quality of your presentation? Well, just like Coach used to tell you—put in your mouthpiece and start with the basics. And basically, the fundamental element of written communication is font.
But what exactly, you might ask, is font? Put technically, font is the interface between your ideas and your readers. Put simply, font is the style of your typeface. Is it big, bold, crisp, underlined, or colored? Is it spaced well? Is it even legible? These are all important questions—questions that any conscientious document creator must answer and act on. But why are font decisions so critical?
When utilized well, a font or font mix accomplishes four things: 1) focuses attention, 2) enhances readability, 3) sets a tone, and 4) projects an image. Font is your first line of defense against reader apathy—and your first chance to really capture an audience, create a positive and lasting impression, and encourage continued interest. Remember, though, while font can (and should) be used for good, it can also be used for bad…impressions that is. Every day, writers discover that font choice is an excellent opportunity to make a mockery of their work. This in mind, effective font should be chosen both carefully and strategically. To assist, presented here is a brief digest of useful font guidelines.
1. WATCH YOUR CASE
As per tradition, for typical documents you should use upper and lower case text for the body of your work. Avoid using all upper or lower case text anywhere in your document, as both can be difficult to read. As for headings and titles, use upper case lettering whenever prescribed or necessary.
2. SIZE DOES MATTER
Generally accepted writing guidelines for typical documents prescribe the use of 10-12 point font for the body, 14-48 point font for primary headings, and one-half of the primary heading point size for secondary headings. A warning though: font on your computer screen may appear larger than it actually is. If you err, err on the large side. Remember, if your text is too small to read, it simply won’t get read.
3. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Simplicity is a virtue in writing. Keep this in mind when choosing a font or font mix. Remember, your font is supposed to enhance your message, not sabotage it. Unless it is truly warranted, tend toward simple, inconspicuous fonts like Times New Roman or Arial. Also, these fonts, among others, are TrueType—this means that what you see on the screen is exactly what you will see on the page.
4. BE CONSISTENT...
Font is a privilege, not a right. So don’t abuse it by using three or four different styles in the same document. As a rule, never use more than two fonts in the same piece. Like the saying goes: three fonts is a crowd—on your reader’s attention. So once you choose a font, be committed and use it throughout. Your readers will thank you.
5. ...YET USE VARIETY WHEN NEEDED
Although, in general, font use should be consistent throughout a project, variety is sometimes needed to break the monotony. One good way to infuse diversity into a document is via the use of italicized, bold, or underlined text. These highlighting tools, as well as many others, are properly used to signal importance, emphasis, even inflection (see paragraph one). But remember, use them sparingly or don’t use them at all.
6. ABOVE ALL ELSE: MATCH YOUR MEDIUM
The goal of every project is different; as is the intended audience, the resources available, and so on. Accordingly, there isn’t one best font. Rather, it is the characteristics of your project that determine which font is superior. Remember, these are just guidelines, not gospel. If you need uppercase text, use it. A multicolored paragraph? Do it. Ultimately, the bottom line is: Does your presentation match your medium? If it does, bravo. If it doesn’t, it better.
Jinsi ya kutumia Fonti (Na Kwa Nini Unapaswa Kujali) Mawasiliano, uso kwa uso na kwa maandishi, hutokea katika ngazi mbili: maneno na yasiyo ya maneno. Ili kufikia athari kubwa, ni muhimu kwamba mawasiliano haya mawili yanalingana kwa uthabiti. Fikiria jambo hilo. Je, mtafahamu kwamba mfanyabiashara anayetabasamu ni mwenye kushawishi? Je, ungependa kuwa na msemaji mwenye kuchochea ambaye husema maneno ya kawaida? La, sivyo. Si zaidi ya wewe kupata hali yako Congressman ya dhati. Kwa nini? Kwa sababu kuwasiliana ni zaidi ya maneno tu. Kwa sababu, kwa ufupi, maonyesho ni muhimu. Katika kuandika, ukubwa ni muhimu. Na nafasi. Na rangi. Na kila kitu kingine. Uwasilishaji ni muhimu kwa aina zote za mawasiliano - zaidi ya yote wakati wa kushughulika na mawasiliano ya maandishi. Tofauti na habari inayotolewa kibinafsi, ujumbe ulioandikwa haubadiliki. Ni lazima ijiseme yenyewe. Wasemaji stadi wanajua kwamba maudhui mazuri hayatoshi. Wanajua kwamba ili kupata mawasiliano yenye matokeo kweli lazima mtu aweke uangalifu sawa kwa jinsi yaliyomo yanavyotolewa. Kinyume chake, wawasilianaji wasio na mafunzo hawafahamu kwamba mtindo unaweza, na mara nyingi hufanya, kufuta nyenzo - na makopo ya taka ya ushirika kote nchini yanajaa mabaki ya kudhihakiwa ya wasifu wao unaofanana na noti ya fidia. Kwa hiyo, unawezaje kuboresha ubora wa utoaji wako? Naam, kama vile Mkufunzi kutumika kukuambia <unk> kuweka katika mdomo wako na kuanza na misingi. Kwa kweli, sehemu muhimu ya mawasiliano ya maandishi ni font. Lakini unaweza kuuliza, font ni nini hasa? Kwa maneno mengine, font ni kiunganishi kati ya mawazo yako na wasomaji wako. Kwa ufupi, font ni mtindo wa aina yako ya maandishi. Je, ni kubwa, yenye ujasiri, yenye kuvutia, iliyoonyeshwa, au yenye rangi? Je, ni nafasi nzuri? Je, hata inaeleweka? Hizi ni maswali yote muhimu - maswali ambayo kila muundaji wa hati mwenye dhamiri lazima ajibu na kutenda. Lakini kwa nini maamuzi ya herufi ni muhimu sana? "Kama inatumika vizuri, font au mchanganyiko wa fonts hufanya mambo manne: 1) inazingatia, 2) inaongeza usomaji, 3) huweka sauti, na 4) inatoa picha.""" Font ni mstari wako wa kwanza wa ulinzi dhidi ya upole msomaji <unk> na nafasi yako ya kwanza ya kweli kukamata watazamaji, kuunda hisia chanya na ya kudumu, na kuhamasisha maslahi ya kuendelea. Kumbuka, ingawa, wakati font inaweza (na inapaswa) kutumika kwa ajili ya mema, inaweza pia kutumika kwa ajili ya mbaya... hisia kwamba ni. Kila siku, waandishi hugundua kwamba kuchagua fonti ni fursa nzuri sana ya kudhihaki kazi yao. Kwa kuzingatia hili, fonti yenye ufanisi inapaswa kuchaguliwa kwa uangalifu na kimkakati. Ili kusaidia, iliyotolewa hapa ni muhtasari mfupi wa miongozo muhimu font. 1. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Kama ilivyo kwa kawaida, kwa hati za kawaida unapaswa kutumia maandishi ya juu na ya chini kwa mwili wa kazi yako. Kuepuka kutumia maandishi yote ya juu au ndogo mahali popote katika hati yako, kama wote wanaweza kuwa vigumu kusoma. Kuhusu vichwa vya habari na majina, tumia herufi kubwa wakati wowote inapopendekezwa au inapowezekana. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Kwa kawaida, kanuni za maandishi za maandishi ya kawaida zinatoa kanuni ya kutumia font ya pointi 10-12 kwa kichwa, 14-48 kwa vichwa vya kichwa, na nusu ya ukubwa wa kichwa cha kichwa cha kichwa cha kichwa cha kichwa cha kichwa cha kichwa cha kichwa cha kichwa. Hata hivyo, tahadhari: fonti kwenye skrini ya kompyuta yako yaweza kuonekana kuwa kubwa kuliko ilivyo kweli. Ikiwa umekosea, kosea upande mkubwa. Kumbuka, kama maandishi yako ni ndogo sana kusoma, ni tu si kupata kusoma. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli KUHIBARI KWA KISIHA FURAHA FURAHA ni sifa nzuri ya uandishi. Kumbuka hili wakati wa kuchagua fonti au mchanganyiko wa fonti. Kumbuka, font yako inapaswa kuboresha ujumbe wako, si kuuharibu. Isipokuwa ni kweli alithibitisha, huwa kuelekea rahisi, fonts inconspicuous kama Times New Roman au Arial. Pia, fonti hizi, miongoni mwa wengine, ni TrueType <unk> hii ina maana kwamba kile unachokiona kwenye skrini ni hasa kile utaona kwenye ukurasa. 4. Uwe na uhakika Kuwa thabiti... Fonti ni pendeleo, si haki. Kwa hiyo usitumie vibaya kwa kutumia mitindo mitatu au minne tofauti katika hati moja. Kwa kawaida, usitumie fonti zaidi ya mbili katika kipande kimoja. Kama msemo unavyosema: fonti tatu ni umati wa watu kwenye umakini wa msomaji wako. Kwa hiyo, mara tu unapochagua font, kuwa na nia na kuitumia wakati wote. Wasomaji wako watakushukuru. 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. ... BADILI TUMIA VARIAZI UNAPOHitajiwa Ingawa, kwa ujumla, matumizi ya fonti yanapaswa kuwa sawa katika mradi wote, wakati mwingine utofauti unahitajika kuvunja monotony. Njia moja nzuri ya kuingiza utofauti katika hati ni kupitia matumizi ya maandishi yaliyoandikwa kwa herufi za italiki, zenye herufi nzito, au zilizoandikwa kwa herufi za chini. Vifaa hivi vya kuangazia, pamoja na vingine vingi, hutumiwa kwa usahihi kuonyesha umuhimu, mkazo, hata kubadilika (tazama fungu la kwanza). Lakini kumbuka, tumia kwa kiasi au usitumie kabisa. 6. Uwe na uhakika KWA KWENYE VYO VYOTE: FANANIZA NCHAMU YAKO Lengo la kila mradi ni tofauti; kama vile watazamaji wanaokusudiwa, rasilimali zinazopatikana, na kadhalika. Kwa hiyo, hakuna fonti moja bora. Badala yake, ni sifa za mradi wako zinazotambua ni fonti gani iliyo bora zaidi. Kumbuka, hizi ni miongozo tu, si injili. Ikiwa unahitaji maandishi ya herufi kubwa, tumia. Fungu lenye rangi nyingi? Fanya hivyo. Mwishowe, jambo kuu ni: Je, maonyesho yako yanalingana na njia unayotumia? Ikiwa ndivyo, Bravo. Ikiwa sivyo, ni afadhali.