Do you want to read it?

Akanksha Sharma
Dec 31, 2022
2 min read

Have you thought about why you are reading the way you’re reading? For most of us this question might not even make a lot of sense.

For human beings there has been research done through years on the way we read. Literally on ‘how’ we read too. The essence of reading comes naturally to us. We have engaged in activities from our childhood that make the reading process intuitive.

But, studies done have expressed how the way we all read and the topics we engage in, the meaning we take out from it are all varied. The visual exposure of mere words and making meaning from it are two extremely different activities.

There is a reason why different things we read are structured in more or less similar ways, be it in physical books or gadgets. They utilise what we call, ‘Principles of design’ that focus on understanding human thought process and behaviour. The way words are placed have an effect on our emotions. We tend to feel engaged or detached by the words presented. Some of us would continue reading and some would stop and never want to come back to the same text. This is mostly governed by how our brains process what we see and what is comfortable and inline for it.

Like, would you prefer a paragraph with all capital words or a paragraph with a sentence case?

Do you know the reason of your choice?

The answer is mostly governed by our 'ease’ to read.

Take this example below;

The shapes that words acquire have an impact on our capacity to recognise them. Mostly it is seen that mixed-case text creates irregular shapes that make it easier for humans to distinguish each word than blocky all-caps text that creates a rectangle when put together making it a bit harder to read for longer.

Now, think of your reading environment. Do you like reading in a quiet space or in a cafe where there are a lot of people? Do you prefer the comfort of your home or would enjoy reading in a pub? Whatever you choose is usually affected by the way you have chosen to read earlier, especially in childhood. The brain creates memories of similar situations that form habits for us. These habits stay more or less the same unless made an effort to change.

If you have been habituated to study in your home since childhood, it would be easier for you to read and make meaning of words read in a private space, even libraries could work but adjusting to a pub with varied lightings, I am not quite sure of that!

That is why, designers and publishers tend to put a lot of emphasis on the way text is laid, formatted and presented. Making the typography function as well as it can in every circumstance, regardless of screen size, paper type, internet connection, choice of place to read is all well thought and worked on. They want you to engage and experience the words fully with coherence. They want you to be able to communicate with words and create an experience.

Examples of well thought and structured writing to enhance engagement and ease in reading.