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Niall_O_Donovan
Niall_O_Donovan
Known Participant
May 14, 2011
Answered

Fonts for guidelines to legislation

  • May 14, 2011
  • 1 reply
  • 2146 views

Hi,

I am working on a new document and considering some options for the fonts. The document is a guideline to legislation, so I want the look and feel to contrast the actual legislative text.

The guidelines are there to support reader, help to guide them through the legal requirements in a clear and concise manner.

I want to make sure that the document is approachable and easy to read. It is unlikely that a reader will read from cover to cover. They are more likely to dip in and read certain sections.

In previous guidelines we have used Myriad Pro or Verdana for body text and Hypatia Sans for heads. However on this occasion I am considering a serif font for the body, like Warnock or Garamond. While these fonts help make the document more readable, I am concerned that this may make the guideline appear more serious and less approachable.

So, sans serif OR serif for this type of document.

I would be grateful for suggestions.

Thanks,

Niall

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jacob Bugge

    Niall,

    It may be too close in this case, but you may notice that it is somehow less tiring/boring. In this context it matters little whether you have New.

    Still pondering.

    Edit:

    For contrast and readability, you may consider some of the more readable (but distinctly different) sans fonts like Verdana, Helvetica, Myriad, Futura, or a quite different serif font like Century Schoolbook (as you probably know, Arial is just a euphemism for fake Helvetica).

    To decide, you may put some text (the full keyboard of letters or a relevant piece of text) into a word processing application in Times, then repeatedly copy it and change the font until you like what you see in comparison. With each new piece of text selected, you should be able to run through the fonts and see it happen, then select font, create a new copy, and go on. When you reach the bottom, you can compare, delete, and move about, until you are there.

    1 reply

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 14, 2011

    Niall,

    Which font is used in the legislative text?

    Depending on that, there may be counter reasons, but I still feel that (New) Baskerville gives the easiest (and most pleasant) read.

    Niall_O_Donovan
    Niall_O_DonovanAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 14, 2011

    Thanks Jacob,

    The legal text is in Times New Roman:

    Which, if it helps, is available here:

    http://hsa.ie/eng/Legislation/Acts/Safety_Health_and_Welfare_at_Work/SI_No_10_of_2005.pdf

    I am trying to create a document with a more approachable style. Because the legislation is so formal, do you think that New Baskerville is a sufficiant contrast?

    Here is a copy of a previous guide:

    http://hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Chemical_and_Hazardous_Substances/Your_Steps_to_Chemical_Safety.pdf

    In the UK, some of the guidelines use Arial.

    I have the Baskerville font (not sure if 'New'), so will give it a run around the block and see how it looks.

    Thanks,

    Niall

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 15, 2011

    Niall,

    It may be too close in this case, but you may notice that it is somehow less tiring/boring. In this context it matters little whether you have New.

    Still pondering.

    Edit:

    For contrast and readability, you may consider some of the more readable (but distinctly different) sans fonts like Verdana, Helvetica, Myriad, Futura, or a quite different serif font like Century Schoolbook (as you probably know, Arial is just a euphemism for fake Helvetica).

    To decide, you may put some text (the full keyboard of letters or a relevant piece of text) into a word processing application in Times, then repeatedly copy it and change the font until you like what you see in comparison. With each new piece of text selected, you should be able to run through the fonts and see it happen, then select font, create a new copy, and go on. When you reach the bottom, you can compare, delete, and move about, until you are there.

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