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This question has come up for me as a content designer a few times recently. First, I got involved in an accessible fonts discussion on Twitter last year. Then, I was asked my opinion on readable fonts by a large charity. I shared the evidence that people who knew more than me had shared on Twitter. Lastly, I read The Non-Designer’s Design Book this January to learn more about graphic design, and the author, Robin Williams, had some insights on font choices.
Initially, my instinct was to stay away from this topic, as it’s hotly debated with no absolute consensus. However, in the spirit of helping us all aim for improvement, rather than perfection – especially as there may not be one perfect answer – I’ve gathered up a few observations about what makes the best font for reading.
Topline summary
What I learned can be summarised in these overall takeaways:
- User research and testing with a broad range of real users — in the context that they encounter your content — will help you find the best font for your purposes.
- Professional opinion varies, but some pointers around letter shape can guide you to make more accessible font choices.
- A sans serif font is not necessarily more readable than a serif font. In fact, some san serif fonts can be less readable than some serif fonts.
- Easy differentiation of letter shapes, and also between headings and body text, is essential.
- Font weight, as well as shape, needs to be considered for legibility.
- Exemplar, usability-tested accessible fonts are available.
Why is a clear font important?
Type font confuses people if it’s not well-defined. A study by Thomas Bohm of User Design, Illustration and Typesetting showed that the following letters and symbols were confusing for people aged 13 to 45, with no dyslexia or visual impairments. I’ve bolded the letters and characters that were confused.
