Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
OK, Now Deal With It: The Finer Points of Text Typography
Very little attention is
paid to the crafting of type beyond composition and style. The tiny details of text setting
are equally, if not more, important to ensure smooth reading and grammatical correct-
ness, and are often overlooked. Knowing these fundamental rules for clean text setting
keeps the designer alert to potential spacing problems and helps improve the look and
readability of running text.
HEY! YEAH
,
YOU! USE THE RIGHT MARKS!
There is no quicker giveaway that the designer of a
text is a total amateur than the use of prime marks (or “hatch marks” as they're sometimes called)
in place of the punctuation that's supposed to be there. Prime marks are used to indicate foot and
inch measures. The most egregious error—and, oddly, the most ubiquitous—is the substitution of
a prime mark for an apostrophe. Just don't do it. Second in line: substituting prime marks for quo-
tation marks. There are two versions of quotation marks: an open quote and a closed quote. One is
used to indicate the beginning of a quotation (the ones called “66” because of their shape), and the
other is used to end a quotation (the ones called “99”). Please use accordingly.
PUSH AND PULL
.
Colons and semicolons need additional space preceding them and less space fol-
lowing them. Exclamation points and question marks often benefit from being separated from their
