Tech 360 Notes: Typical Problems with Newsletters and Other Documents

Rivers of White Space Caused by Gaps Between Words
These are usually caused by full justification and/or too large a font related relative to column width, causing words to be pulled farther and farther apart until the gaps start to dominate a column.
Inappropriate Column Spacing
Gutters and alleys are often too wide or narrow. Gutter width should be proportional to type size.
Trapped White Space
Holes in the document between elements on a page. White space is desirable in a document, but keep it around the outside of the page.
Claustrophobic Pages
Avoid elements crowding each other, or text touching a border line.
Whispering Headlines
Make headlines stand out. Use larger, bolder, or otherwise contrasting fonts.
Jumping Horizons
Start text columns the same distance from the top of the document.
Heading and Sub-Headings Close to the Wrong Copy
Put headings closer to the text that they refer to or they will look like breakouts.
Keep the spacing before and after heads and subheads consistent throughout the publication.
Too Many Boxes
Column margins already make a box shape out of the text itself. Use lines only when you need to set something apart.
Oversized Indentation
1/2" indentation is appropriate for a single wide column format. 2 - 3 column formats need less indentation.

Problems Formatting Headings and Sub-Headings

Avoid long lines with all caps or italics. They are hard to read!
Line length should influence leading. The more characters in the line, the larger percentage of leading is needed. Headings seldom need any additional leading.
Let type promote continuity throughout a presentation. Don't change fonts or font size without a good reason!
Insure contrast through shape. For example, use blocky type if you are printing over a "rounded" background image.
Tighten the tracking in larger type sizes. Do this regularly for headlines.
Mix cases properly. Either capitalize only the first word in every heading, or capitalize all the major words in every heading.
Break title lines logically, without hyphens. (This is desirable for any line, actually.)
If you have multiple-line headings, put the shorter line below the longer line.