Text Layout
By: Aaron B. Copyright AaronOutpost.com

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I used to be editor of a newspaper, all goes the same with text layout for a website. 

Use Easily Understood Terminology (Words)
Write using a third grade reading level. Except, well if you are talking a computer language or in some high intellectual manner, then language goes hand in hand. But for news, events, and other such items you should use words easily read and understood.

Make Highlights, Make page Quick & Easy
Use short paragraphs, headings, and bulleted lists with bookmarks. This allows users to browse a page quickly and easily to find what they are looking for without reading the entire site. If you don't have these items, users will get frustrated and leave. Who wants to read everything? LOL

A user should be able to go down the page, read the first sentence in every paragraph, and know what the entire page is about.

You need to make the page aesthetically pleasing to the eye and easily read. Preview your pages and look at it as if you have never seen it before and you are looking for something. I know it is hard to do, but how easily is your information found?

 Avoid These! 

• Large Blocks of Text

• Bright Graphics Or Text

• Bad Contrasts

• Backgrounds that make text hard to read

• Items that look like SPAM

  • All CAPITAL LETTERS - this is common to someone who is trying to sell a scam and people avoid such headlines. Plus, it is hard to read and strains the eye.

  • Avoid text that is too small to read and large disclaimers. This makes the user turn on you. One, they do not want to read all of it. Two, It's easier to find information somewhere else. I don't like terms of services with catches... do you?

 Do This! 

• Layout your page with columns and small paragraphs.

• Add images and clip art to separate large grey areas of text.

• Images can add a nice feature to your website and make it no as dull.

• Choose an easily read font and font size.

• Use font sizes that match you images files also.

• Do not create large and small area fonts.

• Try to keep a steady pace and use large fonts for headlines and highlights.
  
  More info on text in Fonts and Typefaces Tutorial
  
  More info on layout in the Tables Tutorial