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Because these are PRINTED docs., and they want Sans Serif font for both
headers and body and it makes the body text very hard to discern from the
headers, especially since all the paragraph styles are In Column as well. I
am trying to do something to enhance readability and keep the text from
competing with bold headlines in sans serif typefaces.
It's very, very hard to read as it is laid out right now.
TVB
-----Original Message-----
From: Wright, Lynne [mailto:Lynne -dot- Wright -at- Kronos -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2017 8:15 AM
To: Tammy Van Boening; lonewriter-discuss -at- mailer -dot- stc -dot- org;
techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: General writing question
Speaking from the perspective of an ex-typesetter, using serif for text and
sans serif for headings was never a standard for the publications we
produced.
If anything, over the 30 years since I was in the typography/publication
production biz, the trend has been away from serif fonts. Sans serif is
definitely the standard now; its considered more modern and easier to red,
and the fine strokes in serif fonts used to be an issue in terms of display
and readability on computer monitors.
Look at pretty much any company's website or on-line documentation; I bet
you'll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn't use a Helvetica-like sans
serif.
When I see a doc that uses Times or similar font, I actually get a bit
annoyed. It seems so old-fashioned.
Everyone is entitled to their preference, but I wouldn't say that fighting
for Times is worth the effort. If your client wants sans serif, why on earth
wouldn't you give them what they want?
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=kronos -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Tammy Van Boening
Sent: January-26-17 9:59 AM
To: lonewriter-discuss -at- mailer -dot- stc -dot- org; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: General writing question
All,
Since the cows have come home, I have always, and I mean always, used Times
or another serif font for body text and san serif for headings and I know
that this is considered the "norm" or "standard" for tech. docs. That said,
a new client is insistent on using sans serif fonts for both headings and
text and it isn't pretty when you're trying to read this manual.
Does anyone have any hard references/links to sites that you could point me
to that stipulate why this is the norm/standard for writing manuals? Right
now, my client considers everything that I offered as an explanation as
simply anecdotal and not worthy of consideration.
Yea, I am about to punt. . . .
Thanks,
TVB
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