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

Center Aligned

A centered alignment also gives a particular look to text: a more formal, sedate, and potentially more boring sort of look. People who are just beginning to work with text tend to center everything because it’s safe. It’s symmetrical. It fills the space, everything balances automatically. However, a centered alignment can create a dreadfully dull piece, and it often creates an amateurish page.

A centered alignment has consistent letter and word spacing, but you have to keep finding the beginning of the lines as you read so it is not the most readable arrangement. But if you’re going to do it, then do it. Make it clear that the text is centered, not just poorly justified. Varying line lengths make the page visually interesting. ...