Improving the presentation of your website

The way you present your information can also have a big impact on the readability.

Fonts.
- On a screen, a non-serif font such as Arial, Verdana or Tahoma is easier to read
- On a printed page the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) recommend using at least size 12pt, but if you allow users to change the text sizes on browsers they can set it to any size they wish
Text case.
Use lower case where possible as it is easier to spot word shapes, making your content easier to read
Lines.
- Try to make lines 10-12 words long as readers can lose their way with a longer line length
- Keep lines left justified but with a ragged right edge
Paragraphs.
- Break up blocks of text by leaving lines between paragraphs as white space helps web display.
- Keep paragraphs short as this helps to refresh the eye
- Vary paragraph lengths. This is so that the eye can easily take in the point and can orientate on a scrolling page.
Bullet points and numbered lists.
Bulleted lists help clarity on a screen and break up the page. Nested lists can convey information quickly.
Make sure it is possible for users to specify their own font style and size as well as background and text colours

If you have any other tips that you think others might find useful, please pass them on.