
(F39)_Job:12-40337 Title:RP-Design Elements 2nd Edition
#175 Dtp:160 Page:146
128-185_40337.indd 146 12/19/13 6:40 PM 128-185_40
TEXT
choosing and using type
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MECHANICS OF TEXT
Assessing Character Count, Leading,
and Paragraph Width
The width of a para-
graph depends heavily on the size of type
being used and, therefore, how many
characters can be fit onto a single line.
Regardless of the type size or the reader’s
maturity, between fifty and eighty charac-
ters (including spaces) can be processed
before a line return. With words averaging
between five and ten letters, that means
approximately eight to twelve words per
line. Achieving this character ...