Character-related factors

Emphasis

Text with a clearly structured layout is easier to understand. This can be achieved by using sub-headings and adding emphasis with bold or italic typefaces. Colour can also be used to achieve emphasis, but it is important to ensure clear colour contrast.

Too much emphasis results in ‘cluttered’ text and can be more of a hindrance than a help. As a result, emphasis should be used sparingly.

Both CAPITAL NOTATION and underlining reduce character recognition. This said, the use of underlining to indicate links is now an established convention in web design. It should be used for this purpose only and always at an adequate distance from the baseline. Hovering over a link (mouseover) should reveal clearly visible formatting, not simply a change in colour.