When formatting text in a document it is crucial to set the font size and line length for optimum readability. This article will give you some tips to get the balance right. Font size and line length are what sets the mood for your reader, the wrong font size can be an instant turn off!

Small type in a long line can be very hard to read. The appearance of this is dull and boring and can give your reader the immediate impression that the document is going to be a chore to get through.

The opposite of this can be as equally damaging to your potential readers: short lines of text with large type make things just as hard to read.

As a rule of thumb you should always aim for your lines to contain roughly 35-55 characters per line: this keeps the lines to a consistent length. You should also do your best to use no fewer than 20 characters and no more than 65 characters per line.

Another way to help keep the reader interested is the use of columns. These should remain consistent from page to page - different columns throughout a document can result in the reader having to work harder to get through the text.

One final thing to remember is "White Space".  White space is the areas around the text, graphics and margins. When you incorporate a lot of white space it helps reduce the strain on the eyes and gives your document a much cleaner, less busy feel.

Point size is too small and the line contains too many words:

Point size size is too large and the line contains very few words: