Show readers where to begin.
Someone reviewing a proposal may look for the subject first, then the scope and finally the price. Giving every line the same size and weight makes that route unclear. Establish a clear order between the document title, section headings and body text.
You do not need many typefaces to do this. Different weights from one family and thoughtful spacing are enough for many documents. Rather than enlarging every heading, emphasize what actually has priority.
Space is part of readability.
Very long lines can make it harder to find the next line. Narrow columns can break words too often. Evaluate line length using actual descriptions, and avoid reducing line spacing just to fit more information.
Space around a heading should keep it connected to the text it introduces. If it appears closer to the preceding paragraph, readers may group the information incorrectly.
Good typography helps readers notice the information, rather than the lettering.
Test figures and language characters.
In tables, the alignment of amounts, currency symbols and decimal places matters. Try Turkish characters, long company names and numbers of different lengths in your chosen font. Do not assume a light weight will print as clearly at a small size as it appears on your design screen.
- Build a clear but restrained hierarchy of headings.
- Test descriptions at their actual lengths.
- Keep enough contrast between text and background.
- Open and review PDF and Word outputs separately.
Make the final decision beyond the design screen. Reviewing a document at the size and on the device where it will be read makes small typography problems easier to spot.
