THE NON-DESIGNER'S TYPE BOOK

Readability and legibility
of small caps

Pull quotes and captions are sometimes set with small caps, but keep
in mind that small caps are no easier to read than all caps. Since every word
in all caps is a rectangle, our eyes have to resort to reading letter by letter.
This does not mean you should never use all caps or small caps—just be
aware of this limitation and use them when you can justify the loss in read¬
ability and legibility. The more text there is in all caps or small caps, the less
likely it is that people will read it.

To LIVE CONTENT WITH SMALL MEANS; TO SEEK ELEGANCE
RATHER THAN LUXURY, AND REFINEMENT RATHER THAN
FASHION; TO BE WORTHY, NOT RESPECTABLE, AND WEALTHY,
NOT RICH; TO STUDY HARD, THINK QUIETLY, TALK GENTLY,
AND ACT FRANKLY; TO LISTEN TO STARS AND BIRDS, TO
BABES AND SAGES, WITH OPEN HEART; TO BEAR ALL CHEER¬
FULLY, DO ALL BRAVELY, AWAIT OCCASIONS, HURRY NEVER.
In A WORD, TO LET THE SPIRITUAL, UNBIDDEN AND UNCON¬
SCIOUS, GROW UP THROUGH THE COMMON. THIS IS TO BE
MY SYMPHONY.
William Henry Channing

Do you find that, even though the text is interesting, you have to
struggle to stay with it? Small caps are no easier to read than all caps.

e j lames

In typography, numbers are called figures. Most typefaces use plain old
regular numbers, or figures. These regular numbers (also called "lining
figures") are similar to all caps in that they appear to be too large when set
within body text. But figures used to be designed like lowercase letters,
with ascenders and descenders, which blend smoothly and beautifully with
body copy. These "oldstyle figures" are also particularly beautiful when set
in large sizes. Once you start using them it's hard to go back to the regular
lining number.

Notice how large and clunky these numbers appear:

Dear John, please call me at 438-9762 at 3:00 to discuss marriage.
Or write to me at Route 916, zip code 87505.

Notice how beautifully these numbers blend into the text:

Dear John, please call me at 438-9762 at 3:00 to discuss marriage.
Or write to me at Route 916, zip code 87505.