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Sometimes called negative space or blank
space, white space is the area of the paper with no writing
or graphics. The arrangement of white space, text, and graphics on a
page motivates readers to continue-or to stop. For example, readers are
likely to avoid reading a page with blocks of text, narrow margins,
small type, tight leading, and little white space. But readers are more
motivated to read documents with generous margins, extra space between
lines, and plenty of white space surrounding headings and graphics. By
consciously including white space in your documents, you can accomplish
the following:
- Give readers
brief mental breaks as they read.
- Signal the end of
one section and the beginning of another.
- Emphasize and set
off an element on the page.
- Make documents
more interesting to read.
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The design of this page from a manual makes poor use of white space.
Tightly spaced lines and paragraphs stacked atop each other give the
page a dense, uninviting feel. Surrounded by text, the graphic lacks a
strong visual definition. Similarly, the headings lack emphasis.
Finally, the equal space between paragraphs and the section heading
fails to signal the beginning of a new section.
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In this revised example, the increased space between lines and
paragraphs gives this page a less impenetrable look. In addition, using
more space between sections than within sections helps readers
recognize the beginning of a new section. A larger type size and a sans
serif typeface (a typeface without short extensions on the letters)
also make the section title more visually distinct. Likewise, the
outdented headings (headings that protrude beyond the left margin of
the body text) make the page easier to navigate. Surrounding the
graphic with a generous amount of white space gives it emphasis and
signals to readers that it is important.
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