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Subject:Re: Serif vs. Sans Serif From:Tom Murrell <trmurrell -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 21 Jun 2001 10:13:39 -0700 (PDT)
Is there some reason you need to get the approval of someone else? Most
non-writers, particularly non-technical writers, neither know nor care what
font is used. At least not until after the fact. Remember these words: "It is
easier to get forgiven than it is to get permission." (Admiral Grace Hopper)
That said, here's another approach, again building on the idea that most
readers don't know and don't care, or at least don't know that they care. <g>
Take a document and reformat it into the typeface, leading, kurning, etc. that
you think is most readable. Show it to the powers that be. Maybe make a
presentation, including side-by-side comparisons of representative pages.
That said, if you have already encountered resistance, which is probably why
you have turned to the denizens of TECHWR-L in the first place <g>, you are
tilting at windmills, imho. "They" are likely to be very resistant to change.
"They" will cite the fact that they already have an acceptable look to their
documentation, that it is part of their corporate identity, that, to "them"
what they have is more readable than what you propose, etc. ad nauseum. In
other words, you have already lost this fight. I might even argue--though I
personally agree with you--that it is not a fight worth fighting. But I firmly
believe that each person is entitled to tilt at whatever windmills seem to that
person to need tilting at.
Best of Luck,
Tom Murrell
--- Brigitte Johnston <bjohnston -at- HTEC -dot- com> wrote:
> Hello all -
>
> My company's manuals and reports (mostly distributed in hard copy for use in
> training classes) are all currently produced in sans serif type (with full
> justification). Information in these manuals is of a somewhat technical
> nature, but it's not "rocket science" nor software- or hardware- related.
> I'm trying to convince folks here to change to serif type (ragged right).
> After 12 years of writing, I still I feel it's easier on the eye, and more
> "friendly" in appearance. Have any of you come across this situation? What
> are some of your thoughts on serif vs. sans serif for print? How do you
> think I could best persuade "them" to make the change? Any and all comments
> most appreciated! (FYI - I'm on digest.)
>
> Thanks-
> Brigitte Johnston, Tech. Writer
> Ann Arbor, MI
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