![]() ![]() ![]() Is the data showing change over time? If so, your readers are most likely interested in seeing the most recent data first, so order your table thus. This may not add to the aesthetic beauty of the document, but it can make the report significantly more readable. There are almost as many ways to order data as there are tables. Lastly, be sure to give some consideration to the data when determining how to organize it in a table. The visual elements should make the table easier to read, not more difficult. ![]() This means avoid any funky shadows, shapes, textures, etc. You don’t want the enhancements to interfere with the purpose of the table: displaying information so that it’s easy for the reader to grasp. Avoid TemptationĪ word of caution when it comes to visual interest. If a table contains a large amount of data that you can sort easily into logical groups, use subheads to allow readers to quickly jump from group to group. This is another area where there are no hard and fast rules, so experiment with the size of borders both horizontally and vertically.Īlso, don’t be afraid of using subheads within a table. Borders and SubheadsĬell borders are another way to add visual interest. What a difference color makes! We also bolded column headers, readjusted horizontal cell size and removed vertical borders. For instance, if a chart contains numbers, you can display negative numbers in red. You can also use color to help best represent the data. Choose two complementary colors, light enough so they don’t interfere with the text readability, and alternate colors for each row. One common technique is to add background color to your chart. Line after line of black and white data in a table can wear down the reader, so show a little mercy by adding a few visual elements. In this case, top-justified text tends to be the most readable. The major exception here is when cells in one row contain significantly different amounts of information. Vertically, center-justified text typically is the easiest to read. Vertical AlignmentĪlso, don’t forget to consider how text is aligned vertically within a cell. You’ll likely want to right justify content so decimal points or base digits line up vertically in each cell, making it easy to scan and compare data. One major exception to this rule is when the data is currency or other numbers. Center-justified text should be used sparingly, perhaps for elements you want to stand out from the rest, such as column headers and subheads. In general, left-justified text is the most natural for the reader. Should your data be aligned to the left in a cell? The right? The center? The top? The bottom? Here we’ve aligned most of the text to the top and the left of each cell,instead of the earlier center and bottom alignment, for easier scanning.The one exception is the column of numbers. The important thing is to take a hard look at the final spacing and if the paragraphs seem too squished or too spread out, experiment with adjusting the spacing. Paragraphs: As with leading, most reporting software automatically adjusts the amount of space between paragraphs.If you have the ability to change the leading, a good rule of thumb is to set the leading to approximately 20 to 30 percent bigger than the type size. Lines: Most report and document template interfaces automatically adjust the amount of space between lines of text.This is easiest on the eyes of the person reading the report. Words: Unless you see a compelling reason to do otherwise, align text to the left.Characters: The spacing for characters within words is taken care of by the font’s built-in spacing, so you don’t need to concern yourself with this.Is this a company report that includes a standard company logo? The rest of the report doesn’t need to use the exact font contained in the logo, but you should choose one that goes well visually with the logo or other elements.ĭid you know there are commonly accepted ratios for spacing of text elements? If the output is a serious document, you’ll want to choose a classic font with clean lines, such as Garamond, as opposed to a decorative font such as Monotype Corsiva, which mimics handwriting. ![]() Instead, you should choose a font consistent with the document’s contents. The Big Myth: Serifs Affect Readability on Computer ScreensĬhoosing a font for readability or legibility is no longer the most important concern. In general, serif fonts make words easier to read (readability) and sans serif fonts make individual letters easier to discern (legibility). ![]()
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