Typefaces and Accessible Writing

There are no very strict accessibility standards that clearly indicate which typefaces should be used in design and how they should be used. This area often falls within the designer’s creative freedom. For this reason, designers who are interested in accessibility frequently ask similar questions. Below, I have compiled some of the most common ones.

Font Selection

Serif or sans serif?

Serif fonts have small decorative hooks or tails at the ends of letters, called “serifs,” whereas sans-serif fonts are simpler and free of decorative elements.

Both font families can be accessible in principle. What really matters is which specific typeface you choose. Still, if a preference must be made between the two, serif fonts can be used for printed materials, while sans-serif fonts are generally more suitable for digital content. The serifs in serif fonts can make letter recognition easier, and they work well at the resolution of printed materials such as books and newspapers. However, since screen resolution is lower than print resolution, clean sans-serif fonts tend to be more legible on digital displays.

How can you tell if a typeface is readable?

The most practical test is to place similar-looking characters side by side. You can try the following examples. I also tried to show good examples in the visuals.

• 1, capital “I,” lowercase “i,” and lowercase “l”

• Capital “O” and the number 0

• Lowercase “C” and “O” – the ends of the “c” should be open enough so that it is not confused with “o”
  

• Capital “B” and the number 8

• Lowercase “p” and “q,” as well as lowercase “d” and “b” – what matters here is that symmetrical characters should not be simple mirror images of each other. These characters should also have additional distinguishing features so that especially individuals with learning and reading difficulties can perceive them more easily.

Which fonts are recommended?

Frequently used fonts such as Arial, Roboto, and Helvetica are not entirely free of accessibility issues. Below, you can see the characters “lowercase L” and “capital I,” “lowercase c” and “lowercase o,” and “lowercase d” and “lowercase b” in these three fonts. Frankly, they do not look very good.

Nevertheless, since people have become accustomed to these fonts over time, disability organizations state that they can still be used.

My personal favorite and recommendation is Atkinson Hyperlegible. The distinguishing features of similar characters are emphasized, and special care has been taken to ensure that symmetrical characters are easily distinguishable. It meets all the criteria mentioned above.

In addition, you may often see the Open Dyslexic font used in accessibility-related work. Although academic studies have tested its suitability for individuals with dyslexia based on the distinctiveness of its letterforms, I am skeptical about its use for people with low vision. Due to its busy and complex appearance, it can create visual difficulties.

There are also question marks regarding the academic studies often cited in the design field. In many readability studies, the tested font is compared with Arial. As mentioned above, Arial itself already has issues. Therefore, a positive result in such research may simply mean that the tested font is the “better of two poor options.

Another common mistake in font selection is the use of handwritten fonts, especially in celebratory social media posts. Choosing handwritten styles significantly reduces readability.

Font Usage

Is there a problem with using italics and bold?

The slanted nature of italic styles can sometimes be difficult to perceive. For this reason, it is better to use bold instead of italics for emphasizing important expressions. However, bold usage should also be limited. As letters become thicker, the spacing between them can decrease, which negatively affects readability. Bolding just a few words within a sentence is fine, but it is best to avoid making an entire sentence bold.

Does writing in all capital letters make text more readable?

There is a common belief that since capital letters take up more space on the screen, they are easier for people with low vision to read. In reality, readability improves when letters have different heights and shapes and when these varying forms come together. For example, letters like y, p, and g extend downward; letters like k, l, and t extend upward; and letters like a, e, and o sit neither upward nor downward. The contrast created by these differences makes words easier to read. Writing everything in capital letters removes this visual distinction because all characters align on the same level.

Text Formatting

Left-aligned or justified?

A common mistake is formatting paragraphs as fully justified. In justified text, as seen in the example below, some words end up with too much space between them while others have too little. This creates visual inconsistency and makes reading more difficult. The recommended approach is to left-align the text.

What do accessibility standards say about font size, paragraph spacing, letter spacing, and word spacing?

There is no strict restriction on font size in accessibility criteria, but the recommendation is to use at least 12 points (16 px).

There is sometimes confusion around paragraph, letter, and word spacing. The WCAG Text Spacing criterion recommends that spacing should be adjustable by the user. This criterion is sometimes misinterpreted by designers as meaning that spacing must be set according to these values within the design itself. However, users can already adjust spacing through assistive tools. What really matters is that when users change spacing, the content does not disappear or overlap. These are adjustments that must be handled at the code level.

If we follow all these rules, won’t all fonts and texts start to look the same? Isn’t that boring?

Actually, no. Think of accessibility like Lego. There are basic blocks and rules, but you can still build an infinite number of things. Accessibility provides you with a set of rules to improve usability, and these do not prevent you from being creative. For more practical suggestions, you can check out the website and YouTube channel of typographer Oliver Schöndorfer, who also considers accessibility in his work: Pimp My Type.

Above all, there is no need to be overly creative and use complex, attention-grabbing typefaces. If your main goal is not to create a work of art but to provide information and services, it is best to keep things simple and stay focused on the primary purpose.