Typography Essentials

THE LETTER12 Emphasis using weight

STAYING WITHIN THE SAME TYPE FAMILY and simply varying the weight of the family member can signal a shift in hierarchy, even when the point size is unchanged. Changing the weight allows two words to be melded together, yet still retain their own identity without the use of a word space. Changing the weight within a single word can indicate a shift in hierarchy. Or, most commonly, heightening emphasis by using a heavier weight in a list, in a paragraph lead-in, or within the text without changing size is a simple yet effective tool. Depending on the typeface used, the point size may need to be slightly reduced to maintain an even typographic color of a passage of text. (See “Hierarchy using weight” on page 66 ...