page_38 < previous page page_38 next page > Page 38 8 Forget the Alphabet-and-a-half Rule A hoary, ink-stained rule of thumb says a line of type should not be any longer than an alphabet and a half in the same point size (some say two alphabets). That rule is meant to keep designers from setting type in blocks that are too wideif the lines are too long, the reader's eye can get lost. But the rule is far too simplistic. If you use it to determine the line length for 12-point Garamond #248, for example, it allows a line only 19 picas wide. Yet one of my type specimen books shows a sample block of 12-point Garamond set 24 picas wide and it is perfectly satisfactory, highly legible. One key reason the alphabet-and-a-half rule doesn't always work is that it doesn't take into consideration line spacing. Extra line spacing can eliminate doubling because it helps direct the eye as it moves from one line to the next. So instead of blindly following the alphabet-and-a-half rule, consider type size, x-height, line spacing, the overall legibility of the typeface, ink color, and the type of paper (text or coated). Even though this sample of 12-point Garamond #248 breaks the alphabet-and-a-half rule, it's perfectly easy to read. 9 Increase Line Spacing as You Increase Line Length If you want to increase the line length of a block of text, you may also have to increase the line spacing. By adding a bit more white space between each line, you'll make sure the reader's eye doesn't go astray as it drops from line to line. But beware: too much leading and your type page or display paragraph falls apart and readability is damaged. As you increase line lengths, be sure to also increase line spacing, but not so much that your text begins to fall apart. The first sample is 11-point Times Roman on a 12-pica line. It's quite readable with 12 points of leading. The same type on a 22-pica line, though, looks better with 13 points of leading.  < previous page page_38 next page >