Readability is how easily a reader moves through text. A beautiful font can still be hard to read if it is set poorly, so these adjustments matter as much as the typeface itself.
Adjustments that help most
- Keep line length in a comfortable range so the eye does not get lost or fatigued.
- Add enough line spacing. Body text usually reads best with leading a little larger than the text size.
- Maintain strong contrast between text and background.
- Avoid long passages set in all capitals, which slow reading.
- Choose a font designed for text rather than a display font for body copy.
On screens specifically
Screens reward simple, open letterforms. Test your text on both large and small screens, since a size that reads well on a laptop can feel cramped on a phone. Respect the reader by keeping the default text size generous.
License terms vary from one font to another. Always review the license included with a specific font before using it, especially for commercial work.