If I understand correctly (please correct me if I'm mistaken), you are seeking guidance on formatting your content to improve readability.
In that case, I don't have any specific websites to recommend for inspiration since my formatting choices are based on personal preferences rather than following particular sources. I tend to focus on making my content visually appealing and easy to read based on my own judgment.
Based on my experience and previous research conducted 10-12 years ago, I can offer you the following tips:
- Ensure that your content is presented in concise chunks, using short paragraphs consisting of 2-3 sentences each. Aim for sentences that are brief, with 10-30 words per sentence. Ideally, limit each paragraph to a maximum of 3 sentences and keep them within 4 lines of text in a container that is at least 800 pixels wide.
- Always align your text using a "justified" alignment, where both the left and right edges are straight.
- When it comes to the spacing between lines of text, my preferred choice is typically 1.5 points. However, depending on the specific design and font used on the website, you may need to experiment with ratios such as 1 point or 1.2 points to determine which provides the best visual appearance. Ultimately, 1.5 points is usually the optimal choice in my opinion.
- It is generally recommended to use one of the following four fonts for your text: Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana, or Georgia. Verdana and Georgia are often regarded as the easiest fonts to read, although personally, I find Verdana more readable than Georgia. In most cases, I lean towards Arial as my preferred font, but this is purely based on personal preference.
These fonts are commonly used and considered visually pleasing, particularly for business or professionally-oriented blogs and websites. However, if you wish to express your personal style and incorporate unique fonts on your site, you have the freedom to do so. Artists, gamers, coders, and similar niches can adopt their own distinctive styles that may deviate from the guidelines mentioned above. It's acceptable for them since their target audience tends to share their preferences and appreciate their chosen aesthetics.
- Incorporate sub-headings whenever practical as they enhance the readability of your content. Depending on the fonts you use, you may consider bolding the sub-headings, although it is not always essential. Experiment with both options to determine which choice enhances the text's overall quality.
- Whenever applicable, include bullet points or lists in your content. These concise lists, consisting of 3-5 bullet points, allow readers to grasp information more swiftly compared to reading through a paragraph. By presenting key points in a list format, people can easily understand the information being presented.
There are certain aspects that are highly suitable for presentation in bullet points. These include:
- Benefits
- Features
- Pros
- Cons
- Reasons
- Causes
- Symptoms
- Effects
- Types
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
By using bullet points, you can effectively highlight and organize these specific elements, allowing readers to quickly grasp the information being presented.
- When using lists and bullet points, remember to employ indentation to make them more visually distinct. However, avoid excessive indentation or centering, as these can have negative effects. Aim for a moderate 2-3 points of indentation to maintain a clean and organized appearance.
- Minimize the use of underlining, bolding, and italicizing in your text. In terms of readability, less formatting is generally more favorable. Strive to maintain a smooth reading experience by keeping the variety of formatting elements to a minimum. This allows the text to flow naturally and facilitates easier comprehension for the readers.
- It is generally recommended to use a font size of 14px, as it is easily readable for most people. However, I must admit that my personal preference leans towards a slightly larger font size of 16px, likely due to my use of glasses. This choice assists me in reading more comfortably. Nevertheless, 14px remains the standard size that ensures ease of reading for the majority of people. Therefore, sticking to a font size of 14px for all your writing will suffice and ensure readability.
