Have you ever picked up a book or opened an article, excited about the topic, only to find yourself squinting or struggling through it? The issue might not be the content but the typography! Fonts are like the silent voices in your writing—they either whisper, shout, or mumble, depending on how you use them.
When you cannot read something even though you want to, blame the typography because a river runs through it. Rivers show up in print due to odd spacing between words. They can distract the readers eyes. Here is an example of what a river looks like from Knowadays and the link back to their blog on how to prevent them.
Font Tips & Tricks!
Fonts aren’t just about looking pretty; they can make or break the message you're trying to convey. Think of them like the wardrobe for your words—does the suit fit, or are we talking about a costume party gone wrong?
Here’s a few tips to keep your fonts friendly and functional:
Less is More – Keep it to two or three fonts max. Too many fonts? That's like showing up to a wedding in a clown costume—it distracts from the message. Watch out for "scripty" fonts that are difficult to read.
Mind Your Space – Avoid overcrowding your images with text, and give your readers' eyes a place to breathe. Let the images speak!
Be Aware of Widows and Orphans – No, not a sad children’s book. These are stray words at the start or end of lines that leave your paragraphs looking messy. And don’t forget rivers: those odd gaps that make your text look like a maze. (Here's a great article on these typographical stragglers.)
Click here for an orphan example
Stay Consistent – Using the same font style and size throughout keeps things clean and easy to read.
Remember, great typography does the heavy lifting for you—it shapes your reader's experience without them even realizing it.
Here are some great additional resources to learn more about fonts and typography!
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