4. Enhancing Readability through Document Design

When you compose a message, you want your audience to find the information it needs quickly and to understand it. Your message should be easy to read and comprehend.

Strategic use of white space improves document readability. Which of the following techniques employ white space? Check all that apply.

Using headings

Using justified alignment

Breaking paragraphs into shorter chunks

Using bulleted and numbered lists

Margins determine the reading area of a document.

Complete the following sentence about margins and alignment with the best choices.

Nearly all text in Western cultures is aligned at the , and the right margin may be .

Typeface, font, and size influence how your message is read.

Review the selection, and determine whether the following statement about typeface and font is true or false.

A WIDE variety of typefaces are available for business writers. Different typefaces suggest different purposes and occasions.

True or False: This selection uses a serif typeface.

True

False

Headings are important for visual impact and readability. Which of the following sentences about headings are true? Check all that apply.

Headings should not be used in formal documents.

Headings often appear in business reports.

Headings increase the skim value of a message.

Read the following sentence, and determine which technique is most applicable to improve its readability.

The letters you send to clients must be precise, stated with clarity, and utilize an economy of language.

Using numbered or bulleted lists

Developing parallelism for balance

Eliminating compound prepositions

Choose the heading that is best at highlighting information and improves readability.

The Truth About ABC Corp. Profitability

Financial Analysis of ABC Corp.