Non-Designer’s Type Book, The, Second Edition

Right Aligned

Text aligned on the right creates a definite look, as shown below, quite different from left-aligned. The letter and word spacing still retain their ideal built-in settings, and corrections can often be made without affecting the rest of the text. The biggest drop in readability comes from the fact that the left edge, where your eye returns to find the next line to read, is not consistent so your eye has to find the beginning of the line again every time it moves to the left. In small amounts of text, this isn’t a major problem, and the sacrifice can be worth it in exchange for the distinctive layout.

When you use a right alignment for the look it creates, then emphasize the look—don’t be a wimp. Instead of keeping the ragged edge ...