Rules for headings

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Tip of the month is edited by Peter Ring, PRC (Peter Ring Consultants, Denmark) 
- consultants on how to write user-friendly manuals  

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The 7 golden rules for headings:

1. The difference in size (points) between the levels should be a factor of 1.4 or more. Boldface is equivalent to one level up, too.
2. Use heading markers like a line below, below+above, a box around the text with or without shadow. Another way is to use a different typeface, e.g. a non-serif font (Helvetica, Arial, Swiss, etc.)) if the "bread" text is a serif font (Times, Bodoni, Bookman, etc). But don't use more than two different fonts in a document, except as part of an illustration. A third way is to center the heading or to put give it a margin to the left of the breadtext margin. These methods may even be combined.
3. A grey-tone behind the heading is OK to indicate a heading, but make sure the screen is fine enough, and that the grey tone is not darker than approx. 20%.
4. For reverse headings (white text on a black background) use bold characters to make it readable.
5. Don't use CAPITALS for the whole heading, in particular if your headings are longer than 20 characters. Capitals are more difficult to read fast, and fast reading is the prime purpose for a heading.
6. For the upper levels of your headings, insert extra space above and below the heading.
7. On the 1-2 highest levels , start on a new page, for level 1 preferably on a new right (normally odd) page.

Never forget when designing your heading system:

If you disagree with these ideas - or have more relevant points +/-, please e-mail me !
(Ideas for "Tip of the month" subjects are welcome, too!)

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