Ebook font size too big?

Hi there Slin,

I was once advised to write my content using font size 12 in Arial.
This also relates to the Font (design) itself.

I believe the typical Fonts are Arial, Times Roman, maybe even Verdana or Tahoma.


Could you not do a split-test and ask your subscibers for their reviews?

Maybe chose a page or chapter (new or old content), select different fonts and font sizes and see what responses you'll get?


Jvsnow01.

Or just simply tell them to use the magnify tool

I always use 12pt Arial Justified.

For a report or ebook, I set the lines to 1.5 to make the whole thing easier to read.

It is much easier on the eyes.

Karen

It is a safe bet always to use size 12, its also a good size for those people who like to print out their pdf's that they have purchased. Also some people seem to feel that they have been mislead if they are sold an ebook that has a larger font just to bulk out an ebook to make it look larger.

I've got a 1,000 page ebook for sale. Anybody want it?

I've found that Arial or Veranda 12 pt 1.5 spacing is easiest on the eyes. This font size is big enough to be read clearly by most, but small enough to avoid complaints about skimping on the information.

size 10-12 in basic arial or times new roman or even cooperative is good. Anything bigger than that looks as if you are trying to add pages to your ebook

Great advice as I'm getting ready with my first ebook. I see most people using Arial. I was always told by graphic designers that sans-serif fonts such as Arial are harder to read in paragraph form. But, it looks like with the extra line spacing, you have solved that problem.

Is there anyone advocating a serif font?

Given font sizes, Arial 12pt is much bigger than Times 12pt, so Arial will add to the page count, I believe.

The first thing is to think about your niche.

If you are writing for everybody, then you should go for 14 point Ariel.

However if you are writing for the elderly or teenagers then I would say go for 15 point, as old people don't see well, and teenagers lose concentration easily.

Don't forget that PDF's are always adjustable in the viewer. It isn't really that bigger deal one way or the other.

It is much more important what your content actually is, rather than the start up font size or page count.

For PDFs, anywhere between 14 and 16. The whole idea is that they're designed to be read on the screen. I find it much easier the skim and scroll when displaying a whole page on the screen at any one time.

Obviously, you've got to base this on a 'typical' sized screen. People on a netbook are always going to have to zoom in. People working at 1080p are always going to struggle to see the find detail unless they're sit inches from the screen.

The other group who you may have to consider are those who like to print things out. There are various techniques they can use if they find the text size inappropriate (for instance 2 pages in 1), but you have to aim towards the mass market, those people reading on screen. If the printers are a big group, why not consider producing a properly formatted printed product on Amazon?

I actually like larger fonts because it is better to read. But I once bought this ebook where the author used font 20. It felt like I will get carpal tunnel syndrome if I scroll down anymore.

Alright thanks guys

I'll be switching the font, sounds like the 1.5 spacing is what I need.

I am on a really small laptop, and I think this makes it a bit different. I have some ebooks where the print is just too small for me, or looks awkward and I have to mess with the zoom.

Thanks for the help.

- Nils

I feel like I'm reading a children's book on anything over 12 point.

15 point is way too big.

Hey, I'm older and need reading glasses and I still think small fonts, like most books, newspaper and similar material is the proper font size.

You never see a professional manuscript in huge font sizes.

As a professional graphic designer my opinion is that setting a page of copy in 15 point makes the page look like an early reader book. I've been designing pages of text for 25 years, so please, trust me on this.

For book work, with a page size of 8.5" by 11" in the US (and A4 for the rest of the world), stick with 12 to 13 point type set to a 15 or 17 point leading. Feel free to experiment with differing text sizes and leadings, but the more your page looks like a regular book, the easier it will be to read.

The best typeface in terms of clarity for book page work is ITC Galliard (Garamond is too skinny and Times is too MS Word). Avoid using san serif fonts for book work if at all possible. By all means use serif fonts for sub heads and headings but avoid them in text pages for body copy.
The serifs on Galliard (on all serifs really) help guide the eye along the path of the text.

San serif fonts are preferred for Web use because of screen resolutions: serif fonts tend to lose definition on screen, but as much as possible, look at your book, even in PDF form, as a printed page, not as an electronic document. Many people like to print PDFs because it's easier to read a printed page than it is to sit in front of a monitor and read.

As much as possible AVOID designing a book in Word. Microsoft Word is NOT a typesetting program and for the best overall look and feel for your final product, take the time to work with a graphic designer and see this as an investment, not as an expense.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

I found this on Google:

Normal books usually have a font size of around 10 pt., depending on the font

So there you are... eBooks may not be 'normal" though........