18. People read faster with a longer line length, but they prefer a shorter line length

Slide 1

• 18. People read faster with a longer line length,
• but they prefer a shorter line length

Slide 2

• Research shows that 100 characters per line is
• the optimal length for reading on-screen; this allows for the
• fastest reading speeds because your eyes don't have to keep jumping from line to line as much, interrupting
• the flow of your reading.

Slide 3

• Most people actually prefer a short or medium line
• length of 45 to 72 characters per line. This is because
• people think it is easier to read shorter columns of text
• and also believe that they can read it faster. The truth is
• that people can read a single wide column faster than
• multiple columns.

Slide 4

• If you are designing something where reading speed is an issue, then use larger line lengths. (100 characters per line)

Slide 5

• If you are designing something where reading speed is less of an issue, use a shorter line length of 45 to 72 characters per line. Multi page documents work well with 45 characters per line so that the text takes up more space.