Highlighting Information There are many ways to make the most important information in a document stand out to the reader. This can be done through the formatting of the text itself and selecting the type of print used for the text. Here are some suggestions: - Use titles and subtitles for the various sections of the document. This helps the reader to identify the main theme for a section, and what is important about that theme.
- Provide a table of contents or review list at the beginning of new sections. Mapping out the material to be covered will help the reader follow it more closely.
- Provide a summary at the end of each section which restates the key points. This helps the reader to remember what he/she has read.
- Separate key points from the rest of the text. This can be done by placing them in a box at a special place on the page.
- Use bullets or dingbats to make lists of information stand out.
- Use larger type sizes for headings, titles, and display purposes. This helps to emphasize important information or a change in theme.
- Bold or underline text to emphasize importance. This is more effective than using italics or all capitalized characters, which actually decrease the readability of a document.
- Use color to highlight information. Avoid medium blues, greens, and purples, which are more difficult for a visually-impaired person to distinguish. Be careful not to use a color code that must be learned, as this increases the burden on the reader.
- Use questions or checklists regarding the main ideas in a document. This will increase interaction for the reader, as well as recall of important points.
Examples: Effective ways of highlighting information: - Bolding type
- Underlining type
- Colors of a dark hue
Ineffective ways of highlighting information: - ALL CAPITALIZED TYPE
- Italic type
- Colors of a light or medium hue
For more information related to highlighting information, see the sections on print settings, format, and illustrations. Further reading on highlighting information can be found in: Writing Easy-to-Read Materials. Center for Medicare Education: Issue Brief vol. 1, no. 2. Return to Resources
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