Why Typography Counts

In my last post, I talked about the importance of writing for the web. Now I will talk about a more visual aspect of writing, which is typography.

Just as we spend time on the colour, layout and other design elements of a web page, the type of font (size, style, colour etc.) is equally important.

There are limitations, of course, as I demonstrated in this blog post. For example, back ground colours and font colours should be carefully chosen to allow maximum legibility.

A blog dedicated to typography called I Love Typography, gives you all the ins and outs about how to make a font, the winning fonts (for 2008), a history of typography, and much more.

I especially recommend the post: On choosing Type.

Browse through this little blog, it has a wealth of information.

The Importance of Writing

Websites have to juggle many things to make their sites successful. Technology is one which we of course cannot avoid - blogs, videos, slide shows, animations, interactive sites, and the list goes on.

How good your website looks - colour, layout, where your items are positioned and overall design also makes a difference.

But, I have seen very few people address writing.

A techy web designer from Particletree advocates the power of writing. He is trying to learn a new skill, and in the process found for us a good list of places to go.

This is what he says about writing, which he also calls communication, quoting from another blog Writing clear and simple:

The words you use, either written or spoken, can have powerful effects on your audience‚—if you use them carefully and skillfully. Whether your goal is to inform, to persuade, to call for action, or to entertain, your words and your stories can be powerful. They can be powerful, because language is software for the mind.

Here are some of the links he gives to help with writing skills:

• Elements of Style
  

• Poynter.org
  

• The New York Times - Grammar and Usage

• The Economist Style Guide
  

• Guide to Grammar and Style
  

• Guide to Grammar & Writing
  

Writing for the web is also a special skill. After honing some good preliminary writing rules and skills, it is still important to gear your writing for the web rather than for print. People read differently on the web.

I have written a blog and an article about this which you can preview here.