Sans-serif font in body text! The comments section is absolutely beautiful to read, but I find the body text of posts very difficult. Most blogs and online news sources seem to use sans-serif, probably for readability.
Alternatively, give users the option to pick their own font. Also, maybe make text black instead of a lighter grey?
When you say “make text black instead of a lighter grey,” are you referring to all of the Forum’s light-grey text (e.g. voting buttons, section subtitles), or something more specific?
I tried to check on the “sans-serif is easier to read” claim but didn’t find conclusive evidence; checking Google Scholar, the first study of computer readability I saw found that serif fonts were easier to read. (This is just one study, of course, and knowing that the Forum’s specific body type is tough for some people really helps us.)
I meant the body text of posts could be darker—I wouldn’t change the buttons or other light-grey text.
Interesting that the study found serif fonts more readable. I’m not aware of conclusive evidence in either direction, I’d just heard folk wisdom that sans-serif is more readable on a computer screen.
My general opinion is that the comments section on this forum is extremely easy to read and clean to look at, some of my favorite formatting anywhere, but personally I find the body text of posts much more difficult to read than most sites. I wonder what most people think, I wouldn’t expect everyone to have the same experience.
Sans-serif font in body text! The comments section is absolutely beautiful to read, but I find the body text of posts very difficult. Most blogs and online news sources seem to use sans-serif, probably for readability.
Alternatively, give users the option to pick their own font. Also, maybe make text black instead of a lighter grey?
When you say “make text black instead of a lighter grey,” are you referring to all of the Forum’s light-grey text (e.g. voting buttons, section subtitles), or something more specific?
I tried to check on the “sans-serif is easier to read” claim but didn’t find conclusive evidence; checking Google Scholar, the first study of computer readability I saw found that serif fonts were easier to read. (This is just one study, of course, and knowing that the Forum’s specific body type is tough for some people really helps us.)
I meant the body text of posts could be darker—I wouldn’t change the buttons or other light-grey text.
Interesting that the study found serif fonts more readable. I’m not aware of conclusive evidence in either direction, I’d just heard folk wisdom that sans-serif is more readable on a computer screen.
My general opinion is that the comments section on this forum is extremely easy to read and clean to look at, some of my favorite formatting anywhere, but personally I find the body text of posts much more difficult to read than most sites. I wonder what most people think, I wouldn’t expect everyone to have the same experience.