Reference Sheet for Formatting
This electronic reference sheet will emphasize formatting options. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for the rhetorical effectiveness of certain formatting choices.


 Fonts

The two most important choices that you should make in relation to fonts involve font sizes and font faces. These choices should be informed by the function of the text within your document:

Text Function

Font Size

Font Face

Font Emphasis

 

Headings

 

Headings need to be in a larger font size than that of the body text, and different levels of headings should be distinguished from one another. Headings generally range in size from 14 to 22.

 

 

Headings need to be in a sans serif font such as Helvetica or Arial. Sans serif means "without feet," and thus these fonts are smooth and boxier.

 

Headings need to be bolded. Italics should be reserved for emphasis within body text. Underlining should be avoided.

 

Body Text

 

Body Text needs to be in a smaller font than that of the headings, and the size you select should remain consistent throughout the document. Body Text generally ranges in size from 10 to 14, but, for this course, you should use 12.

 

Body Text needs to be in a serif font such as Times New Roman, Palantino, or New Century Schlbk. Serif fonts have "feet," and thus are more legible in the body of a document because they provide more visual cues to readers.

 

 

Body text generally needs to be unemphasized. Bolding and italics should be used sparingly in order to maintain their rhetorical effectiveness. Underlining should be avoided.




Bullets

When highlighting lists, you can use either bullets or numbered bullets. This choice should be informed by the function of the list within your document. To make bulleted lists even more readable, you should indent them appropriately.

Bulleted List

Bullets highlight a set of components, items or ideas within the body of your document. You should use them when you are not emphasizing the sequence or amount of items within your list. Numbered List

 Numbered bullets highlight a sequence or amount of components, procedures, items, or ideas within the body of your document. You should use them when you are emphasizing a set of steps or the quantity of items within your list.
    1. Item or Step One
    2. Item or Step Two
    3. Item or Step Three
Note: Overuse of bullets diminishes their rhetorical effectiveness. Because they are used for emphasis, you should be discriminating in your application of them.


Borders
When creating sections within your document, borders are an effective choice for "chunking" information and making it more accessible to readers. For an illustration of border usage, see the section headings within this electronic document.


Miscellaneous

White Space

 In order to "chunk" your information and separate your sections, you should make ample use of white space. That is, you should not cram your text and headings together; spacing adequately between and within sections better allows readers to access information.

Section Titles

 Because a document generally has multiple audiences (managers, technicians, lay persons, sponsors, etc.) with varied concerns and priorities, you should label sections so that their content is clearly indicated; that is, descriptive titles allow readers to enter a document at multiple points rather than having to move through it in its entirety from beginning to end.


Project 1 | Project 2 | Project 3

421 syllabus | 421 projects | 421 calendar