TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: on the edge of the law? From:Barb Ostapina <Barb -dot- Ostapina -at- METROMAIL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 24 Jun 1998 09:17:15 -0500
The closest I can come to answering your question, Alfred, is to say that I
ran into an issue in developing template letters for a consumer reporting
agency under the jurisdicition of the US federal Fair Credit Reporting Act,
and our legal beagle uncovered a related state mandate that *consumer*
correspondence be in a font no less than 10 points (can't remember now
which state it applies to). The statute did not specify the typeface (and,
of course, *we* know that matters). You'll probably have to ask someone
less legally challenged than I about your specific situation (but, good
luck).
--B
barb -dot- ostapina -at- metromail -dot- com
...speaking only for myself.
To: TECHWR-L @ LISTSERV.OKSTATE.EDU
cc: (bcc: LOMBMML Ostapina Barb/OLS)
From: awatkins @ POBOX.COM @ METROMAIL
Date: 06/23/98 06:54:42 PM EST
Subject: on the edge of the law?
Is anyone here aware of limits to the size of font and
tracking for a legal document? I'm updating a contract and
have to add a paragraph. It won't fit without adding another
page and redesigning the whole thing, a pageant in which I
am unable to perform due to the deadline. We're already
barely readable: Arial 5.5, normal tracking.
I was trying to tighten the text or reduce the font size
when a coworker mentioned that she (thought she) remembered
that a legal document has to have at least such-and-such
size font and so on. We can't find any reference in any of
our style manuals. I've tried a Web search but didn't find
anything there, either. The legal department is not aware of
such a standard or rule.
Does this situation sound familiar to any legal whirlers out
there?
Thanx in advantz.
Alfred Watkins
Sr Technical Scribe
Cooperative Computing Inc mailto:alfredw -at- coop -dot- com
