Re: NSF font issues Robert Bienkowski 16 Aug 2007 13:29 EST
There has been a lot of research on readability of fonts, and you can start tapping into it by doing a Google search. While the research supports the common wisdom that serifed fonts are generally easier to read, readability depends on the context and the medium. There was a very instructive article in last Sunday's NY Times magazine about readability of - I'm not kidding - readability of fonts on highway signs. ONE UNIVERSAL CONCLUSION FROM THE RESEARCH, HOWEVER, IS THAT USING ALL CAPITALS DECREASES READABILITY. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) bOB bIENKOWSKI -- Robert S Bienkowski, PhD xxxxxx@att.net -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Bill Campbell <xxxxxx@UWRF.EDU> > > When I first started in this business, I heard Lynn Miner say in a > proposal-writing workshop that 'reading research shows that 80% of > readers find serif fonts easier to read than sans-serif.' That matches > my own experience, so I've repeated it to countless proposal-writers. > But now I wonder, is this like the David Bauer reference discussed > earlier? > > In any case, as an ED reader, I appreciate serif fonts, especially when > time is tight, the light is dim, or it's the fifth proposal I've read > that day. In those situations, a proposal written in Arial--or worse, > Arial Narrow--annoys me. The last thing a proposal-writer wants is an > annoyed reader. > > Regards, Bill > > > > Bill Campbell > > Director, Grants & Research > > University of Wisconsin-River Falls > > 410 S. 3rd St. > > River Falls, WI 54022 > > 715/425-3195 > > FAX 715/425-0649 > > > > > > Ruth Tallman wrote: > > Hello All, > > > > If this has come up before, please forgive me. I'm working on a > > proposal to NSF and the PI has just told me: > > > > "Almost all technical manuscripts are written in either Times or Times > > Roman. These are serif fonts and are the default fonts also used in > > virtually all mathematical equation software. To convert equations to > > a sans serif font, like Arial or Helvetica, is insane and won't look > > very good. How are Greek letters supposed to be done, i.e., is Symbol > > font one of the permitted fonts?" > > > > Has anyone submitted a proposal in which the mathematical equations > > are in Times Roman? Do you have any tips for PI's with lots of > > formula's in their proposal? > > > > Your feedback will be appreciated! > > > > Ruth Tallman > > -- > > > > > > /Confidentiality Notice: This message and any attachments to > > this message may contain confidential information. It is > > intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity > > named above who have been specifically authorized to receive > > it. Any further distribution of this message and any > > attachments to this message should be strictly on a > > need-to-know basis. You should consider the confidential > > nature of the information before disseminating, distributing > > or copying this material. Thank you./ > > > > ====================================================================== > > Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including > > subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available > > via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") > > ====================================================================== > > > > > ====================================================================== > Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including > subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available > via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") > ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================