atw: Re: Web Text Line Length and Par Length

Aim for 12 words per sentence, some will be longer.  Minimise
punctuation because it is difficult to see in 10pt Verdana.  Sentences
will become shorter when avoiding punctuation like commas and colons. 
 
I find 600 pixels a comfortable width for a reading block.
 
Lines per paragraph is harder.  For me, whether the lines are related is
more important than how much space they consume.  Stick to one idea per
paragraph - users 'scan' read and may not see additional ideas at the
end of paragraphs.  Inverted pyramid writing applies - start with the
point and dwindle off to the less relevant information.
 
This is all just my opinion and vague recollection from reading over the
years.  Can't offer you any supporting references at present.

  _____  

From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Matthew da
Silva
Sent: Thursday, 30 August 2007 8:12 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Web Text Line Length and Par Length



Hi all,

 

I'm interested in knowing what you think optimal for online text
presentation:

 

*         Length of line

*         Max tolerable number of words per sentence

*         Max tolerable number of lines in a paragraph

 

E.g.

 

*         Is a typical 'blog line' the best or can we tolerate the line
length used by the SMH?

*         Is 17 to 24 words the best number per sentence?

*         Do you think (as I do) that more than four lines in a
paragraph are too much?

 

Non-negotiable:

 

*         Font is Verdana and size is 10 point

*         Font colour is black

*         Heading colour is the corporate red

 

Please send me your thoughts!

 

Matthew da Silva

Technical Writer

Communications and Training Team

Application Services Group

Information and Communications Technology

Room 348, Services Building G12, 353 Abercrombie Street, The University
of Sydney, NSW, 2006

Tel: +61 2 9036 9091      Mob: 0434 536 772

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