Visual discriminability of headings in text

Abstract

It is pointed out that writers and editors have powerful formatting and typographical tools available in word processing and desktop publishing software that can be applied to headings to visually reveal or signal the structure of text, and thus the author's perspective. Results of studies are presented which suggest that (1) visual discriminations among headings are easier for a reader to make when headings vary on fewer rather than more formatting and typographical dimensions, (2) size is the most powerful visual cue to a heading's hierarchical position, (3) relative size differences among different levels of headings of about 20% are more discriminable than are absolute size differences, and (4) formatting cues are perceived by readers consistently but not necessarily conventionally.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
1992-06-01
DOI
10.1109/47.144865
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  2. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  3. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  4. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

Cites in this index (3)

  1. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 24 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.2466/pms.1982.54.3c.1303
  2. On the selection and evaluation of visual display symbology: Factors influencing search a…
    Human Factors  
  3. 10.1080/01449298708901853
  4. 10.1007/BF00052394
  5. 10.1016/0010-0285(80)90005-5
  6. 10.1080/02724988843000104
  7. 10.1038/scientificamerican1186-114B
  8. 10.1037/0278-7393.6.4.335
  9. 10.1037/0022-0663.69.6.730
  10. 10.2307/747664
  11. 10.1037/0022-0663.75.6.811
  12. 10.2307/747349
  13. 10.1111/j.2044-8279.1980.tb00816.x
  14. 10.1037/0278-7393.5.5.496
  15. 10.2307/747969
  16. 10.1016/0010-0285(73)90036-4
  17. 10.2307/747476
  18. 10.1037/0033-295X.85.5.363
  19. 10.1515/text.1.1982.2.1-3.155
  20. 10.1016/S0022-5371(77)80050-9
  21. 10.1037/0022-0663.72.3.304
  22. 10.1111/j.2044-8279.1983.tb02551.x
  23. 10.1016/0361-476X(89)90029-5
  24. 10.1016/0361-476X(81)90003-5