Job:03171 Title:Typography Referenced (Rockport)
Page: 335
320-335 03171.indd 335 9/23/11 2:34 PM
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Job:03171 Title:Typography Referenced (Rockport)
Page: 335
Typography Terminology and Language
Paragraphs and Line Spacing
An indent or a line space can indicate the start of a new
paragraph. The width of the indent depends on designer
preference and the measure being used. Narrow measures
suit small indents, but wide measures likely require larger
indents to be clearly visible. Although not compulsory,
it is good practice to not indent the fi rst line of a paragraph
if it falls at the top of a new column in a multicolumn grid
(220); the column break is enough to indicate the pause
between paragraphs.
Make indents using the “fi rst line indent” fi eld in the
Paragraph palette of your design application, or at the very
least with a tab value, but never with typed spaces. If line
spaces aim to separate paragraphs, indents are not required.
It is usual to make the space between paragraphs a full line
space equal to the value of the leading, enabling all lines of
type to align to a baseline grid. Once again, this is not com-
pulsory, and a baseline grid is not required. Line spaces
can be judged visually. The decision to use indents or line
spaces can derive from the nature of the text. A line space
represents a bigger pause than an indent, so indents are
best for fl owing text and line spaces are more suited to text
intended for reading in smaller, bite-sized chunks.
Another important consideration for paragraphs is the
shape the line breaks form. Excessively jagged line endings
look ugly, so it is best to eliminate them as much as possible
by adding manual line breaks or editing the text to create
a pleasing shape. Try this strategy: Attempt to set shorter
lines at the start and end of a paragraph, with longer lines
in the middle, giving each paragraph a curve outer shape at
the right side.
Line spacing or leading is almost as important as
measure and word count with regard to readability (330).
A reader must be able to scan individual lines of text
easily, moving his or her eyes from right to left to locate
the beginning of each new line. Not enough leading makes
this action diffi cult, particularly with a comparatively wide
measure. Therefore, leading should theoretically increase
for any given point size in relation to an increase in measure.
There is no formula for this; it is a visual decision made
in combination with other factors such as typeface and
point size, but it does generally work. Take into account a
typeface’s x-height and length of ascenders and descenders,
too. A face with a large x-height likely needs more leading
than one with a small x-height, and short ascenders and
descenders will less likely collide with adjacent lines if the
leading is closed up.
There is a trend that exists among some designers to
add leading to make text look more elegant. This can work
in some circumstances but is not necessarily the best way
to achieve stylish typography. Here’s one rule of thumb to
ensure that the leading does not generate white space (228)
between lines: Leading wider than the word spaces of any
given paragraph will decrease readability.
A designer’s job will become even
more challenging as the quantity
of information and noise increases
during the twenty-fi rst century. Those
who possess a broad typographic
understanding will best meet the
communicative and creative challenge,
especially during a time when people
know the diff erence between one font
and another—and which ones read
better or worse with software’s default
120-percent leading.
A designer’s job will become even more
challenging as the quantity of information
and noise increases during the twenty-
fi rst century. Those who possess a broad
typographic understanding will best meet
the communicative and creative
challenge, especially during a time when
people know the difference between one
font and another—and which ones read
better or worse with software’s default
120-percent leading.
A designer’s job will become even more
challenging as the quantity of information
and noise increases during the twenty-
fi rst century. Those who possess a broad
typographic understanding will best meet
the communicative and creative challenge,
especially during a time when people
know the diff erence between one font and
another—and which ones read better or worse
with software’s default 120-percent leading.
8.25 Tiempos text with appropriate
letter, word and line sapcing
Looser word spacing and tighter line spacing
(above), and a sample with looser letter spacing
Word spacing is too tight,
line spacing too loose
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