I grew up a colloquial writer. It was one of my favorite things to do; to write how people speak, to write how people think. Often times I believe that the words we are using have become ineffective, useless in this world of “txt u l8r” and those blog-writing jargon cannons, foaming at the keyboard.
After reading Sabina Idler‘s article: 8 Guidelines for Better Readability on the Web my faith in the lost art of “wordsmithing” was restored and my conviction never stronger. Okay, okay. It may not be that dramatic. But still, if you’re not paying attention to this list, then you’re not being effective with your content.
Here’s the lowdown:
- Choose Fonts Wisely
- Font Size & Line Spacing Are Important
- Use High Contrasts
- Keep Lines Short
- Keep Paragraphs Short
- Get Straight To The Point
- Don’t Use Jargon
- Use Highlights, Lists, and Images