Legibility and readability are two related but distinct concepts in typography and UI / UX.

Legibility

Legibility refers to the degree to which individual characters in a typeface are distinguishable from one another. A typeface with good legibility is easy to read, even at small sizes or in poor lighting conditions. Legibility is influenced by factors such as the size and spacing of characters, the contrast between the text and background, and the simplicity or complexity of the typeface design.

Some typefaces are inherently more legible than others, such as those with distinct shapes for “1,” capital “I,” and lowercase “l” (1Il); or “0”, capital “O,” and lowercase “o” (0Oo). Still, the typography of the text (for example, choices of foreground and background color, font size, weight, and tracking) will influence the legibility.

Legibility is concerned with the individual characters in a typeface, while readability is concerned with how those characters work together to create a readable and understandable block of text.

Legibility Examples

Legibility refers to the ease with which text can be read and understood. Here are some examples of legibility:

1. Font choice: Choosing an appropriate font for your text can greatly affect its legibility. For example, a sans-serif font like Arial or Helvetica is often more legible than a serif font like Times New Roman.
2. Font size: Using a font size that is too small can make text difficult to read, especially for those with visual impairments. On the other hand, using a font size that is too large can be distracting and make it harder to scan through text quickly.
3. Line spacing: Adequate line spacing can improve legibility by making it easier to distinguish one line of text from another. Text that is too closely spaced can be hard to read, while text that is too widely spaced can be difficult to follow.
4. Contrast: The contrast between the text color and background color can affect legibility. For example, using white text on a black background can be difficult to read, while black text on a white background is easier on the eyes.
5. Formatting: Proper formatting can improve legibility by helping readers navigate through text. Using headings, subheadings, and bullet points can help break up long blocks of text and make it easier to scan.

Overall, legibility is an important consideration for any written communication, whether it’s a book, website, or brochure. By taking steps to improve legibility, you can ensure that your message is effectively communicated to your audience.

Readability

Based on Oakland and Lane’s idea that readability should be addressed in addition to the text variables (word and sentence number) as well as reader veins (such as reading skill, vocabulary, vocabulary and subject knowledge), they revealed the necessary variables for the author, the text, and the reader.

Richards and Schmidt defined readability as a measure of how easily the text can be read and understood, and they focused on the variables that reflect the average sentence length, the number of words in the sentences and how complex the language used is in readability. According to Gunning, readability is a practical way to understand what is preventing the text from being read. Dubay states that readability makes some texts easier to read and this concept is sometimes confused with legibility.

Readability, on the other hand, refers to the ease with which a block of text can be read and understood. Readability is influenced by factors such as the overall layout of the text, the length of lines and paragraphs, the size and spacing of the type, the use of headings and subheadings, and the use of images and other visual elements to break up the text.

Readability Examples

Readability refers to how easy or difficult a piece of text is to read and understand. Here are some examples of readability:

1. Sentence length: Shorter sentences are generally easier to read and understand than longer sentences. For example, the sentence “The cat sat on the mat” is easier to read than the sentence “The feline creature assumed a seated position upon the floor mat.”
2. Vocabulary: Using simpler words and avoiding technical jargon can improve readability. For example, using the word “begin” instead of “commence” can make text more accessible to a wider audience.
3. Active voice: Writing in the active voice (e.g., “John ate the pizza”) instead of the passive voice (e.g., “The pizza was eaten by John”) can make text more straightforward and easier to follow.
4. Use of headings and subheadings: Breaking up text into sections with headings and subheadings can make it easier for readers to scan and understand the content.
5. Consistency: Consistency in formatting, grammar, and punctuation can improve readability by reducing confusion for readers.

Overall, readability is important for making sure that your message is effectively communicated to your audience. By following these guidelines and others, you can make your writing more accessible and understandable to a wider audience.