Chapter 4.4 Enhancing Readability through Document Design Aplia Assignment

When you compose a message, you want your audience to find the information it needs quickly and to understand it. Your message should be easy to read and comprehend. Strategic use of white space improves document readability. Which of the following techniques employ white space? Check all that apply. - Using serif typeface - Using bulleted and numbered lists - Using parallel structures - Using headings

- Using bulleted and numbered lists - Using bulleted and numbered lists Explanation: To improve the readability of a document, create ample white space by using bulleted and numbered lists, breaking paragraphs into shorter chunks, and using headings.

Read the following sentence, and determine which technique is most applicable to improve its readability. Please follow these steps when filling out an expense report: begin by writing your name, date, and position; record the exact expense amount; and obtain your supervisor's signature. - Using graphic techniques - Developing parallelism for balance - Using numbered or bulleted lists

- Using numbered or bulleted lists Explanation: An effective strategy to ensure comprehension when writing directions or steps is to number them or put them in a bulleted list.

Headings are important for visual impact and readability. Which of the following sentences about headings are true? Check all that apply. -Documents may contain main headings, subheadings, and category headings. -Headings interfere with the flow of a document. -Headings should always be in boldface.

-Documents may contain main headings, subheadings, and category headings. Explanation: Headings help writers organize information and help readers absorb information. Headings increase the readability and skim value of a document by providing quick previews or reviews. Documents may have several different levels of headings including main headings, subheadings, and category headings. Headings may be found in e-mails, letters, and memos, but they are most commonly encountered in reports.

Which of the following will aid in highlighting information and improve readability? - Use of headings in documents - Using only one or two headings within a document

-Use of headings in documents Explanation: Headings are effective tools used to guide a reader to important areas within a document. Using only one or two headings may indicate that information contained under the heading may not support that topic

Margins determine the reading area of a document. Complete the following sentence about margins and alignment with the best choices. Nearly all text in Western cultures is aligned at the____ , and the right margin may be____________________________ .

1. left 2. justified or ragged Explanation: Margins and alignment can provide important visual relief and improve the readability of a document. Business documents are most readable with left-aligned and ragged-right margins that are 1 to 1.5 inches. Some formal documents use justified margins (both left and right alignment). Center alignment is appropriate only for headings.

Typeface, font, and size influence how your message is read. Review the selection, and determine whether the following statement about typeface and font is true or false. A WIDE variety of typefaces are available for business writers. Different typefaces suggest different purposes and occasions. True or False: Boldface, caps, and italics are typefaces. True False

False Explanation: This selection uses a san serif typeface and font styles such as capitalization, italics, and boldface. Font styles help show emphasis by drawing the reader's attention to specific words or phrases, but they do not comprise different typefaces.