Text-related factors

Margins and spacing

Providing clear spacing between text and format margins, images and other text makes reading easier, particularly for people with visual impairments.¹ For A4 publications, visually impaired readers suggest that a distance of at least 10 mm from the page margin is appropriate.

he distance between text and images or other columns of text should be at least 6 mm.² Some visually impaired readers find they need dividing lines between adjacent columns of left-justified text to help them identify line ends. Table-border and dividing-line widths should be at least 1 pica³ in written text and at least 2 pixels for digital media.

There are currently no specific recommendations on margin size and spacing for web applications since they vary according to screen size (see 7. Digital media). However, clear spacing facilitates recognition here as well.