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Readability Standards, IQ, and The Fourth Estate


if your desire is to motivate your readership to a higher readability level then in doing so you may loose your readership.

  • Print Legibility

    A fluent reading takes place at a rate of 250-300 words per minute with eyes moving in series of rapid jerks, pausing 8-10 times along the length of a typical line. The pauses consume 90 per cent of reading time; each pause lasts about 0.2 seconds. When is reading text is difficult the eyes make backward movements or regressions. Reading becomes less efficient in terms of speed-more efficient in terms of comprehension.

    Speed and comprehension facts have been extensively researched, due to large number of variables conclusions of this research can be nominal, summaries follow:
  • Type

    Lower case print is preferred by most readers, it is read 10 per cent faster than CAPITAL letters.

    When using single letters (e.g.) capital letters are more easily differentiated.

    There seems to be no significant difference in legibility between serif and sans serif typefaces.

    Fluent readers rely on the upper coastline of print for most of information.

    The right-hand sides of letters give more information than the left.

  • Bold type is read more quickly than italics or CAPITALS when emphasis is important.

  • The layout

    There are 4 factors:
    -- size of type,
    -- length of line,
    -- spacing between lines (the 'leading') and,
    -- weight of print.

    If size of type or length of line is changed, the leading should be altered to maintain efficient eye movements.

    10 point, 11 point and 12-point type seem to be the best sizes for fluent readers.

    At the normal reading distance of 35 cm, 10-point type brings 4 letters within the foveal area and 20 letters within a 5-degree field of view.

    Most word-processors set the leading at 120 per cent (i.e. for 10 point type face the leading is 12 point or 72 points = 1 inch; 12 point = 4.2 mm)

    Lines that are too short, or too long, cause inefficient eye movements. In considering reading speed the researchers recommend line lengths ranging 6 - 9 cm (depending on the size of type and leading).

    Safety zones where type size, line length and leading can vary without loss of legibility
    The copyright of the article Readability Standards, IQ, and The Fourth Estate in Fourth Estate is owned by Donna L. Quesinberry. Permission to republish Readability Standards, IQ, and The Fourth Estate in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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