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: readability of table formats From:Michael Collier <mcollier -at- ARLUT -dot- UTEXAS -dot- EDU> Date:Thu, 3 Jun 1999 13:17:20 -0500
I suggest looking over Philip Rubens - Science and Technical Writing: A
Manual of Style. It includes about thirty pages of information related to
tables.
Readability of a table is a result of grouping the information properly
(using shading, borders, etc.), and this topic is covered pretty well in his
book.
............................................................................
.......................
Michael Collier Phone: 512-835-3408
Information Systems Laboratory FAX: 512-490-4254
ARL Office: AX207
University of Texas at Austin email: mcollier -at- arlut -dot- utexas -dot- edu
............................................................................
.......................
> Can someone point me to readability info on table formats? I've
> got half a
> dozen people making suggestions on the format of my tables, all of whom
> claim to have readability studies behind them. However, they can't seem to
> specify where the info comes from. I'd like to read some readability
> studies for myself. Some of the issues:
>
> o when to use alternate shading for lines in a table
> o to use or not to use column borders
> o right or left justify titles that appear along the Y axis
>
> Kimberly Cakebread
>
