Typography & A11Y

It is impossible to set a definitive font size as an accessibility norm since each typeface has its own structure. When formatting for digital media, make sure you give your user the ability to resize the text however they would like. There are more complexities when it comes to arranging printed matter, but this same rule applies regardless of medium. A font size of 12 to 24 points is recommended.

When creating a design that caters to an older audience, use fonts with an x-height of at least 1.5mm - even for small font-size text! As a guide, “large print” publications typically have between 3 and 5mm x-heights on the printed page. Keep this in mind as you create visuals intended for elderly viewers so that they can easily read your content!

Most typesetting programs will preset the line spacing to 120% of the font size (for example, 10 pt font would be set with default 12 pt leading). To make sure your website is more accessible, it's best practice to enter spacing between 125 and 150% of the font size.

Choosing the right amount of leading can be a tricky process, as each typeface has its unique proportions. If you use too little leading, it will reduce readability due to excessive word spacing. On the other hand, if you put too much space between lines of text, your readers won't be able to track along properly from one line to the next. Finding that perfect balance is essential for clear and persuasive communication!

When writing, it is important to leave sufficient space between paragraphs; aim for at least 50% more than what you would use for a line break. Avoid using indentation when formatting your text as this can be less accessible.

The column gutter should be larger than the spacing between paragraphs, but less than the distance from the margin to the edge of the page. This helps maintain consistent readability throughout the text.

Ensuring the spacing between letters is essential for clear readability. Yet, when it comes to negative tracking, unless necessary this should be avoided. On the contrary, slightly looser tracking can oftentimes enhance legibility - especially in large bold/heavy fonts or light text on a dark background.

It is essential to keep in mind the significance of balance. Excessive tracing will eventually exaggerate the space between letters, making words less distinguishable and harder to comprehend.

For optimal readability, it is recommended to keep the line length between 45-90 characters - with spaces included. Having lines that are too short can make readers feel overwhelmed as they will have to jump from one new line of text frequently. On the other hand, if a passage has excessively long lines, readers may struggle to find where each new sentence begins.

If the line of text is longer than 100 characters, it should be divided into two columns. Despite this being a viable practice, accessibility can become an issue with multi-column layouts - so they should only be used when absolutely necessary.

For any left-to-right language, it's best to have the text be flush against the left margin. It's not recommended to use right justification, centering (except for headings), or full justification as these arrangements create spaces between words and letters that can disrupt readability.

When formatting text, it is best to avoid italics and underlining as they can detract from readability. Exceptions can be made if the underlined text serves an interactive purpose (e.g. clickable links).

To ensure maximum accessibility, steer clear of capitalization. Uppercase letters can make it difficult for those with visual impairments or dyslexia to read, and screen readers may assume consecutive uppercase letters are acronyms.

Refrain from hyphenating your text to preclude burdening readers with partial words. If the use of a hyphen is unavoidable, it should be certain that its meaning remains intact. The entire word must be strongly indicated by the part preceding the hyphen for these cases.

To ensure that all symbols are accessible to screen readers, you should use words instead of common shorthand. For instance, write ‘percent’ for ‘%,' 'and' for '&,' and 'number' for '#.' However, when it comes to currencies like the British Pound (£), US Dollar ($), and Euro (€), those must always be represented by their corresponding symbol.

Refrain from utilizing too many typefaces in your project. Designs that use one or two fonts are often more aesthetically appealing - having an excess can create a visually confusing arrangement.

Steer clear of using busy patterns or images as the backdrop for your text, instead opt for a clean background. You will easily be able to discern the words much better when you choose solid or subtle backgrounds that don't take away from their legibility. Additionally, make sure there is an excellent contrast between both font and background colors to increase readability even further!

Pro Tip: If your design does require text to overlay an image, provide a protective gradient or overlay to help improve the readability and contrast.